Snokido is a new extreme winter sport that has gained popularity over the past few years. It combines elements of snowboarding, parkour, and freerunning. Participants use specialized snow equipment to navigate challenging snow terrain in creative and athletic ways.
The Origins of Snokido
Snokido was created in Norway in 2015 by friends who wanted to bring a new level of excitement and dynamic movement to snow sports. They drew inspiration from snowboarding tricks, freerunning stunts, and military mobility training. The name “Snokido” comes from combining the Norwegian word for snow (“snø”) with the word “parkour.”
After experimenting with local mountains, the founders shared videos of their new sport online. This sparked interest from winter enthusiasts worldwide who wanted to try Snokido. Equipment companies started developing specialized snow gear to allow for greater mobility. Competitions and demonstrations were organized, helping to spread awareness of Snokido.
How Snokido is Played
Snokido is practiced on slopes, snow parks, and natural terrain featuring jumps, obstacles, and varied landscapes. The essential gear includes:
- Snowshoes or boards for feet that allow sliding/gliding over snow
- Gloves and weather-protective gear
- Helmet for safety
The objective is to smoothly and fluidly navigate the terrain using vaults, jumps, climbs, and other dynamic movements. Athletes demonstrate creativity, strength, and risk-taking as they:
- Flip, twist, and spin-off features like logs, rocks, and bumps
- Climb steep slopes using specialized grips on hands and feet
- Traverse narrow ridges and leap across gaps
- Slide down railings and fallen trees
Many competitive Snokido routines are set to music, and participants show off synchronized tricks. Speed and smooth linking of complex moves are keys to standing out. Safety is always a top priority in unpredictable snow environments.
Growing Popularity and Competition
As more videos popped up online, Snokido began attracting severe athletes seeking a new extreme sports challenge. Professional snowboarders and free runners transitioned well to Snokido with their dynamic movement skills. International competitions launched, offering large prize pots.
Some of the top annual Snokido events include:
- The Arctic Challenge in Norway – Known as the “Olympics of Snokido”
- US Open in Utah – The most prestigious event in North America
- Euro Series featuring stops in France, Switzerland, Austria
National team programs and sponsorship deals have also emerged. Famous Snokido athletes can earn over $100,000 annually from winnings and endorsements. The sport attracts ever younger talent as the moves become more complex.
Training and Skills
Given the strength, power, coordination, and risk involved – Snokido demands rigorous training. Aspiring athletes focus on:
- Strength training – Core, upper body, and grip strength are crucial
- Plyometrics and calisthenics – For explosive jumping/landing abilities
- Mobility drills – To build control on uneven terrain
- Balance and proprioception – Working on logs, beams develop a feel
- Trick repetition – Spinning, twisting, and linking skills on snow/dry land
- Risk assessment – Careful planning and spotting for new tricks
Mastering air awareness for big jumps is also a must. Many top Snokido athletes have backgrounds in gymnastics or freerunning to complement their snow skills. Event training consists of full-speed runs, adding pieces until a seamless routine is set.
Benefits and Future Outlook
Snokido offers intense cardio and full-body workout benefits, requiring constant movement on challenging terrain. It’s also become a mainstream spectator sport, drawing sold-out stadium crowds. Supporting industries have emerged for equipment, clothing, travel, and more.
Looking ahead, organizers will continue pushing the boundaries with more features added to competition sites. Bigger jumps, steeper slopes, and integration with natural landscapes could further test limits. Virtual reality may also bring on-demand Snokido experiences indoors someday. With young talent embracing extreme movement, the sport seems poised to keep gaining momentum in winter sports circles. As awareness spreads to new regions, Snokido may be considered for inclusion in future Winter Olympics. Only time will tell how far boundaries can be pushed!
In conclusion, Snokido has taken off quickly as the new dynamic winter sport, blending skills from snowboarding, freerunning, and more. Its addictive fluid style integrated with outdoor terrain continues attracting increasingly serious athletes looking for an intense full-body workout and competition challenge in extreme winter conditions. With an engaged online community, growing industry, and competitive international circuit, Snokido shows all signs of becoming an established long-term action sport for generations to come.
