Ice stock sport
Encyclopedia
Ice stock sport is a winter sport
, somewhat similar to curling
. In German, it is known as Eisstockschießen. Competitors slide ice stocks over an ice surface, aiming for a target, or to cover the longest distance. Ice stocks have a gliding surface, to which a stick (ca 30 cm) is attached. The sport, mostly practised in southern Germany
and Austria
, has been demonstrated at the Winter Olympic Games
on two occasions. Although the sport is traditionally played on an ice surface, events are also held on tarmac
s in summer.
European Championships were first held in 1951, and World Championships were first held in 1983, after the International Federation Ice Stock Sport (IFE) had been established.
In target shooting, two teams of four players each take turns in aiming for a target, the so-called Daube. Points are gained by being closest to the Daube after all four players have thrown their stock.
In distance shooting, the aim is simply to slide away the ice stock as far as possible.
Winter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
, somewhat similar to curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
. In German, it is known as Eisstockschießen. Competitors slide ice stocks over an ice surface, aiming for a target, or to cover the longest distance. Ice stocks have a gliding surface, to which a stick (ca 30 cm) is attached. The sport, mostly practised in southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, has been demonstrated at the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
on two occasions. Although the sport is traditionally played on an ice surface, events are also held on tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
s in summer.
History
Although the sport is probably much older, the first proof of ice stock sport being practised stems from a 16th century painting by Dutch painter Pieter Breughel. It would take until the 1930s before the sport became organized. A German federation was established in 1934, and German championships were established two years later.European Championships were first held in 1951, and World Championships were first held in 1983, after the International Federation Ice Stock Sport (IFE) had been established.
Disciplines
There are several disciplines in ice stock sport, of which only target shooting and distance shooting are contested in international championships.In target shooting, two teams of four players each take turns in aiming for a target, the so-called Daube. Points are gained by being closest to the Daube after all four players have thrown their stock.
In distance shooting, the aim is simply to slide away the ice stock as far as possible.