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Ice stock -- test

Ice stock sport (also known as Bavarian Curling) is a winter sport, similar to curling. In German, it is known as Eisstockschießen. Competitors slide "ice sticks" over an ice surface, aiming for a target, or to cover the longest distance. Ice sticks are circular objects with a gliding surface, to which a stick (ca 30 cm) is attached vertically from the center. This sport, mostly found 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 an asphalt surface in summer.

History
Although the sport is probably much older, the first evidence of the sport of ice stick shooting was depicted in a 16th century painting by Dutch painter Pieter Breughel. The sport was not formalized until the 1930s. 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 stick shooting, 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 stick.

In distance shooting, the aim is simply to slide away the ice stick as far as possible.