Winter Sports
For 50 Years, Dogsled Teams Have Been Testing Their Mettle at the Iditarod
Three men who have lived and breathed the Alaskan race for much of its history recall how much has changed—and what has stayed the same
A New Appreciation for Artist Joan Mitchell
The painter was also a formidable presence on the ice
The Freaky Physics of Ski Jump
Olympic ski jumpers do everything they can do counteract the effects of gravity and fly as far as they can down hills
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
As you watch the Beijing Winter Olympics, enjoy this guide to the history, science and thrills of the worldwide athletic competition
Meet the Trailblazers in Women’s Olympic Snowboarding
The careers of Shannon Dunn-Downing, Kelly Clark, Amy Purdy and Hannah Teter are recognized in the Smithsonian collections; learn their stories
A Brief History of Snowboarding
Rebellious youth. Olympic glory. How a goofy American pastime conquered winter
Archaeologists Extract 1,300-Year-Old Wooden Ski From Norwegian Ice
Seven years after finding the first half of the pair, researchers have finally reunited the ski with its mate
How a Railroad Engineer From Nebraska Invented the World's First Ski Chairlift
The device was part of an elaborate plan on behalf of Union Pacific to boost passenger rail travel in the American West
Climate Change Causes Weaker, More Dangerous Lake Ice
Global warming causes temperature swings that leave ice weakened for days, with deadly consequences
What Americans Can Learn From Winter-Loving Cultures
With large indoor gatherings off-limits, the Covid-19 pandemic is giving everyone more reason to stay outside
When the Stanley Cup Final Was Canceled Because of a Pandemic
In 1919, a second wave of cases of the previous year's flu lead to the sudden death of the hockey championship
Speech That Inspired the Modern Olympics Is Now the Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia Ever Sold
An anonymous buyer purchased the manuscript, penned by French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin in 1892, for $8.8 million
How the Zamboni Changed the Game for Ice Rinks
Invented by rink owner Frank Zamboni, the ice-clearing machine celebrates its 70th anniversary this year
Expect Stiff Competition at This Year’s International Hair Freezing Contest
The annual event at Canada’s Takhini Hot Pools draws people from around the world competing for the title of the world’s coolest ’do
Larry Kwong, Gifted Athlete Who Broke NHL's Color Barrier, Dies at 94
Kwong, the first athlete of Asian heritage to play in an NHL game, battled racism and discrimination as he made a name for himself on the ice
The Devastating Impact of the 1961 Plane Crash That Wiped Out the Entire U.S. Figure Skating Team
On this day in 1961, the U.S. figure skating team was headed to the World Championships in Prague. They never made it.
A Brief History of Openly Gay Olympians
Americans Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy are the latest LGBTQ athletes to go for the gold
Meet the 2018 Olympic Artists in Residence
Four artists who are also athletes will make art by Olympians for Olympians at the PyeongChang Olympics
How Physics Keeps Figure Skaters Gracefully Aloft
Every twist, turn and jump relies on a mastery of complex physical forces
A Brief History of Women’s Figure Skating
You might be surprised to learn that this sport where women now shine was initially seen as solely the purview of male athletes
