Ailsa Harvey
This equestrian sport involves the training of horses, to execute precise movements by using subtle signals from the rider. ‘Dressage’ is derived from the French word for ‘training’ and is loosely described as a “horse ballet”.
The purpose of the sport is said to be to develop a horse’s natural athletic ability and showcase their “willingness to perform”. Competitors aim to be able to control the animal while appearing relaxed, with the horse performing the required movements.
Ailsa Harvey
You may have encountered water skiing in its recreational form, but have you ever seen a water ski competition?
Water skiing is a surface water sport involving an individual being pulled at high speeds behind a boat, whilst on one or two skis. The skier needs good balance and great upper body strength to stay upright on the water.
Ailsa Harvey
Matthew Moffatt
A swim, cycle and marathon run all combined into one event; the ultimate test of endurance and mental strength. With the Ironman World Championships just around the corner, USA athlete Shannon Scovel gave us an exclusive insight into the world of Ironman and discussed her love of the sport and her preparation for the world championships.
The idyllic Hawaiian city of Kailua plays host to the 40th Ironman World Championships this year on the 13th of October. Athletes will swim, cycle and run their way around the picturesque setting facing high temperatures and strong winds. Labelled as ‘the most prestigious endurance race in the world’, Shannon is looking forward to taking part and is excited by “the thrill and honour of representing her country.”
Ailsa Harvey
Today, on World Mental Health Day, PACE News look at the unique pressures people face in the world of sport, and how this can affect the mind.
Many athletes carry out daily training with the aim to succeed in their sport and improve their physical health. But, it is important to remember that mental health is just as important as physical health.
‘Mind’, a mental health charity, has carried out research among the sporting community and “identified three particular mental health pressure points for professional sports people, coinciding with times of key transition”.
Ailsa Harvey
The sport of dog sledding involves racing on sleds pulled by dogs, usually over snowy cross-country courses.
The dogs in the dog sled teams have different roles when racing. Lead dogs, at the front of the pack, must have common sense and be able to find route in bad weather. ‘Swing’ dogs and ‘point’ dogs are responsible for guiding the rest of the team through curves in the trail. They run directly behind the leader. ‘Team’ dogs are primarily used for their power, running in the middle and ‘wheel’ dogs stay close to the sled to pull it out of deep snow.
When practising the sport in countries without constant snow, wheeled carts are used instead of the sleds. The person who races the dogs on the sled is called the ‘musher’. Their main roles come before the race in taking care of the dogs, preparing them and training them to perform at their best. Continue reading
Ailsa Harvey
Lacrosse is a team sport, played with a lacrosse stick and ball. The aim of the game is to score the most points by shooting the ball into the goal. Players pass the ball from stick to stick, catching it in the top of the stick. The lacrosse sticks are called crosses, and are sharply bent at the top to form a hook. A pocket is formed at the top in order to handle the ball.
The sports four varieties (field lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, box lacrosse and intercrosse) all have different rules and equipment. While the men’s games and the field and box lacrosse are contact sports and require more protective gear, the women’s game does not allow body contact. Intercrosse is a mixed-gender variety and uses a much softer ball.
Ailsa Harvey
Ice climbing, a sport evolved from rock climbing, involves ascending ice formations such as cliffs and rock slabs covered in ice, ice falls and frozen waterfalls.
The ice can be divided into two categories for climbing; alpine ice and water ice. Alpine ice climbing usually involves mountainous environments with the aim being to reach the summit. Alternatively, water ice is found mainly on cliffs or areas beneath water flow. Whilst alpine ice is created from frozen precipitation, water ice is frozen liquid flow and is generally more technically challenging.
Harry McArthur
Sitting upstairs in the Glasgow Climbing centre I was greeted by an excitable dog, and equally excitable owner; Caitlin Connor. Caitlin is currently the youngest member of GB’s Ice Climbing team, after joining the team over a year ago at only 15 years of age. She spoke passionately and confidently about her experiences in both ice climbing, as well as rock climbing, so far.
Ailsa Harvey
This olympic winter sport is a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Taking place in race format, the biathlete with the shortest total time wins.
Racers ski accross hilly terrain, stopping at fixed targets in order to shoot. If a shot is missed in the shooting, either extra time is added to the contestant’s result or a further distance is enforced.
There are many challenging aspects to be considered in the sport, such as the control in breathing required to shoot the target following the demanding ski course.
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
© 2024 PACE News
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
