Objective of the Game

Snow Snake is similar to the Spear Throw, but it is of course strictly a winter sport. Some of the traditional ways of playing the game test participants' accu­racy. At the Arctic Winter Games, Snow Snake is played as a distance contest. A stick the length of a spear, arrow or modern javelin is hurled across a flat, snow­-packed surface. The player whose spear glides the furthest wins the competition.

Equipment

1. The 'snake' is a straight spruce stick 2 cm in diameter and about 1.3 m long. It is pointed at one end. The surface must be varnished.

Playing Area.

• The snow field that serves as the playing area is generally level and packed. It should be at least 100 m in length. A trough about 2-3 m wide is developed by putting up 30 cm high snow banks running parallel on either side A throwing line and a line limiting the run-up area are marked on the snow.

Teams and Players

• Traditionally, this game is played by men and older boys. At the Arctic Winter Games, there are no female competitors.

Preparations

• The track and the run-up area are constructed as described above.
• The competition order is determined by draw.
• Two assistants are supplied with a tape measure to measure the distances.
• Safety distance of spectators from playing area is enforced.
• The judge or an assistant may sweep the run-up area as required.

How to Play

This movement description explains the right-hand release. For the left-hand release, the step pattern has to be adjusted appropriately.

Preliminary Movements: Grasping the Spear

• The spear can be grasped at any point convenient for the athlete. A smooth throwing motion and release can best be achieved with a well-balanced grip at or close to the spear's centre of gravity.
• Some athletes check to see if the spear is straight (true). Looking down the length of the spear while rotating it slowly will show whether the spear is straight or crooked. A crooked spear should be grasped with the imbalance positioned downward.

Preliminary Movements: Starting Position and Approach

• Most athletes use a run-up of several steps to increase the release velocity.
• The athlete positions himself at a distance from the target suitable for his run­ up. The run-up usually consists of three to five steps, followed by a hop that leads into the back.swing phase.
• During the run-up, the spear is carried at waist level and gradually moved back past the hip.

Backswing

• The last step of the run-up ends in a hop. During the hop:
  • The throwing arm is extended further, completing the backward move­ment. The left arm makes a counter-movement forward. The right shoul­der is rotated back at the same time.
  • The upper body is lowered to the right side.
  • The left leg is moved forward and extended;
• At the end of the hop:
  • The right (rear) foot is planted firmly;
  • The right arm has been optimally extended; the degree of elbow extension varies from athlete to ath­lete. The spear is now fully pulled back.
  • The left leg is fully extended and planted as far for­ward of the right leg as possible.

Force-Producing Movement

• Rotating upper body and waist about the left foot, the athlete brings first the throwing shoulder, then the throwing arm forward in an explosive motion.
• This explosive motion is supported by the gradual straightening of the rear leg.
• Support shifts from the rear to the front leg.
• The throwing hand and the spear are moved as close to the ground as possible.

Critical Instant

• When the throwing arm is extended and the spear has moved forward past the hip, the spear is released. Speed and smoothness of the release determine the success of the attempt.
• An attempt is only valid when the spear is released no higher than waist level. A low release point facilitates a smoother transfer of the spear from airborne to gliding movement.

Recovery

• After release of the spear, the throwing arm swings freely forward-upward.
• For an attempt to be valid, the athlete must not step across the throwing line.

Scoring

• The distance is measured from the throwing line to the tip of the spear at the point where the spear comes to rest.
• When the spear leaves the track:
  • The attempt may be ruled invalid; or
  • the distance will be measured from the throwing line to the point where the spear leaves the track. Participants decide before the beginning of the competition which rule to follow.

Safety Considerations

• Players should be mindful of their surroundings when handling spears.
• The playing zone should be clear of spectators during game play.
• When the game is played on a soft snow surface, the spear's path may not always be predictable.