7 Unusual Winter Sports You Can Try Around the World

Around the world, wintertime brings heavy snowfall to various places. As a result, they’re renowned for being excellent ski and winter sports destinations. But as the weather gets cooler, why not forget about classic winter sports like skiing or snowboarding and try something a little different? 

We've compiled this list of some of the most unusual winter sports in the world to give you a more unique experience. Let’s take a deep dive into 7 of the world’s most unusual winter sports you have to try out this winter, and where best to partake in them.

What are some of the world's most unusual sports?

7. Ice/Glacier Climbing

Add a unique twist to your rock climbing by partaking in ice or glacier climbing. What was once a classic mountaineering activity has now become a practised sport all over the world. Ice climbing is exactly how it sounds, but you have to use specialist equipment to scale the large sheets of ice, whether competitively or as a hobby. 

The equipment you need includes crampons (shoes with spikes) and ice axes, as well as, of course, a helmet and warm clothing. If you want to see this sport in person, you're in luck, as the UIAA has just released the ice climbing calendar for 2025-26. Some of the most iconic locations in the world to see or participate in this sport include Iceland, South Korea, Alpine countries and the Andes, where it is growing in popularity. 

6. Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is essentially exactly how it sounds, in that you are pulled along on a sled by husky dogs. Perfect for the dog-lovers among us, this intriguing sport is enjoyed across the world, from Canada to Scandinavia. Dog sledding's roots can be traced back thousands of years, when it was primarily a mode of transportation for Indigenous people. Today, it is both a competitive sport and a recreational hobby. 

Some of the most notable places to partake in dog sledding include Canada, Finland's Lapland region, Alaska and regions of Siberia. The dogs that pull the sleds are innately suited for this job, thanks to instinct. The most common breeds of dog that pull these sleds include Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds. If you’re in Finnish Lapland to see Santa, make time in your schedule to enjoy dog sledding – we promise you won’t regret it.

5. Snowshoeing

Spice up your everyday hike by going snowshoeing. Since 2006, this unique twist on hiking has held championships set up by the World Snowshoeing Federation. Snowshoeing involves trekking through thick snow while wearing snowshoes, a type of wide footwear that is used to disperse weight evenly and prevent sinking into snow. 

If you find yourself in a particularly snowy area, get your snowshoes on and enjoy a more convenient way of getting around. If you'd rather watch, the snowshoeing championships take place annually across the globe. This unconventional way of walking in the snow has been around for several millennia, making it a cultural and symbolic sport all over the world.

4. Curling

Ice curling has been growing in popularity as a competitive sport since it was featured in the Winter Olympics, despite being an established sport since the 1600s. It's thought to have originated in Scotland, where it was played on the frozen lochs. Akin to stone skimming, which you're likely familiar with, curling involves sliding stones over a sheet of ice. 

The Olympics website states that since the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, "it is fast becoming a global game." You can play a more low-key and ice-free version of the game at various game bars across the UK, like Roxy Lanes, or spectate at a proper competitive game. Popular places to play the game competitively include Canada and Karuizawa in Japan, where you’ll find the country’s largest curling centre. 

3. Ice Fishing

Thought to have an ancient history, ice fishing has long been a way of finding food in harsh winters. To ice fish, you simply cut a hole in frozen lakes or rivers and place your rod. The fishing pros and amateurs among us will likely know a thing or two about this sport. If you do want to partake in this sport competitively, firstly wrap up warm, and secondly, ensure you have the right equipment and know where to go. A clue: some of the most popular places around the world to ice fish include Scandinavia, Canada and the USA. 

The World Ice Fishing Championships in 2025 were held on Lake View in Michigan, and the Great Lakes remain a popular ice fishing spot. Our tips? If you're not familiar with ice fishing, we'd recommend practising some drilling and jigging techniques, and ensure you bring rescue equipment with you. 

2. Skijoring – Leadville, Colorado

Now we come to the more unusual sports on the list, with number 2 being skijoring. This unique sport involves being towed on skis by either a horse or a dog. Similar to dog sledding, skijoring sees "skiing and rodeo come together in a quirky, extreme sport." Having been played across both the USA and Europe, the sport is still growing in popularity in the former. 

You may wonder what the purpose of this sport even is. Well, with historic ties to Scandinavian methods of transportation, the concept has clearly proven too intriguing to skip out on. And, since the early 1900s, the sport has gained fame as an established winter sport, with championships being held across the USA. Why not tether up your skis to your pet horse or dog and experience your first taste of, albeit amateur, skijoring (do this safely, however)?

1. Yukigassen – Hokkaido, Japan

Have you ever considered that a snowball fight among friends would become a recognised worldwide sport? Well, it has, and you can see championship events take place across the world to celebrate it. This fun little game has earned itself a name -- Yukigassen-- and a worldwide reputation. Yukigassen first originated in 1989 in Hokkaido, Japan, where it was introduced as a way of increasing winter tourism to the island. 

Since then, it has skyrocketed in popularity in places like Finland and Japan, and is spreading across Europe. If you were always the winner of your local snowball fight, why not partake in it competitively? Although if you'd rather not be pelted with balls of snow, you can join the crowds of rowdy spectators at the championships that are held worldwide annually.