Ice stock sport: A Dutch invention?

How Dutch painters changed the history of ice stock sport

Ice stock sport – a Dutch invention?

Ice stock sport is a discipline with a long tradition. Its beginnings date back to Scandinavia in the 13th century. Even then, ice stock sport was a popular leisure activity. So popular, in fact, that the game served as inspiration for Dutch painters during their travels in the Alpine region. Works dating back to the 16th century depict scenes of this winter game. The myth that ice stock sport originated in Holland was born.

Since the early days of the game, ice stocks have been crafted from wood, preferably Pear or maple. Today, ice stocks made of metal or plastic are also available on the market; however, even in the 21st century, nothing surpasses the quality and durability of a wooden ice stock.

Ice stock sport enjoys great popularity not only because of the works of Dutch artists. In particularly harsh winters, when entire Alpine lakes freeze over and are thick enough to walk on, entire villages head out onto the ice, just as they did in the past, to compete against one another with their teams.

Ice stock sport as an Olympic discipline

By now, the tradition of the “Dutch invention” has long been refuted, and ice stock sport has established itself as a serious competitive sport. The professionalization of the sport began around 1900 with the founding of the first clubs and reached its peak at the European Ice Stock Championships held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1951. Just 12 years later, at the 1963 Winter Olympics, also in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, ice stock sport was proposed as an Olympic discipline. Despite great interest and further efforts at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, however, ice stock sport could not be established as an Olympic event.

The popularity of the sport was not dampened by this setback, however. Today, ice stock sport is popular worldwide. From Australia to the USA, Canada, Europe, and even in Africa and South America, the game inspires young and old alike.

The Ice Stock World Championships: Revenge for Germany

Even though it did not make it as an Olympic discipline, for athletes and fans, the biennial Ice Stock World Championships is an extraordinary event that is in no way inferior to the Olympics. The first Ice Stock World Championships were held in Frankfurt am Main in 1983; since then, the world championship title has been awarded 12 times in the disciplines of team game, target competition, and distance competition. Most recently in 2018 in Amstetten, where Austria clearly positioned itself ahead of Germany (11x gold, 10x silver, 6x bronze) and Italy (1x gold, 5x silver, 8x bronze) with a medal count of 13x gold, 10x silver, and 5x bronze.

You can find all the latest information about Olympic ice stock sport here: https://www.icestock.sport/

Beyond sporting ambitions, ice stock sport is a popular winter activity, especially in the Alpine region. In the cold season, the young and the young at heart alike flock to the ice arena. And during a sociable game, it quickly becomes clear: besides the ice arena, you need a proper wooden ice stock. Because only a wooden ice stock is truly fun on natural ice.

Ice stock sport as a detail in a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder from 1565,
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockschießen#/media/Datei:Pieter_Bruegel_d._Ä._093.jpg