Expensive fun: how much it costs to play the most expensive sports

Every year amateur sports are becoming more and more accessible. Now almost any boy can go to the yard of the neighboring house and play soccer with friends, while the girls are skating on the asphalt on rollerblades. Such children’s hobbies will definitely not hit the parental purse.

Another thing – the entrance to the professional level, which requires a lot of financial investment. Especially in those sports that are considered elite. We tell you how much the most expensive sports endeavors will cost and what exactly you will have to spend on.

Motorsport

Average check: about 3.5 million rubles per season in karting.

Auto racing is recognized as the most expensive sport. Every year billions of dollars are spent on building quality tracks, buying powerful cars and maintenance in Formula 1. Of course, if you are a first-class pilot, then all the costs will fall on the shoulders of sponsors, and fabulous fees will not keep you waiting.

For example, Dieter Renken, the author of the Racefans portal, presented an approximate list of salaries of experienced F1 drivers in 2019. For this purpose, the journalist talked to team leaders, managers and consultants of pilots. According to Renken’s data, six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton received about $ 35 million under contract, Sebastian Vettel – $ 30 million, and Max Verstappen – $ 16 million.

And yet the path to Formula 1 is thorny: first you have to invest a lot of money yourself. The first step to the career of the racer – karting. A complete kit for this sport includes:

• kart – about 212 thousand rubles (depending on the brand and power);
• spare motors – 106 thousand rubles;
• replacement tires – 14 thousand for one set;
• fuel and other spare parts;
• outfit: overalls, shoes, gloves, helmet, protection – about 20 thousand rubles;
• participation in competitions – 1-6 million rubles (the price depends on the level of competition).

After mastering karting pilot should switch to a racing car class “Formula”, become a member of the team and take tests, where you can win the attention of managers. But this is already an extremely expensive story is not for beginners, which definitely passes over a million in foreign currency.

Equestrian sport

The average check: from 130 to 600 thousand rubles a year.

The price of a thoroughbred horse for participation in world championships is not one million dollars. Again, equestrian professionals have sponsors who cover the costs of horses, their maintenance, transportation, individual animal nutrition and regular checks with veterinarians. But at the beginning of the journey, the athlete has to pay for everything himself. In equestrian sport, you’ll have to spend money on:

• outfit: breeches, comfortable shoes, helmet, crabs and gloves, suit for competitions – about 12 thousand rubles;
• individual lessons at least twice a week, which will teach how to handle the horse – 1-3 thousand rubles;
• rent of a horse – 15-50 thousand rubles;
• starting fee for club and regional competitions – from 2 thousand rubles;
• professional rider who will prepare the horse for competitions – 10 thousand rubles per month;
• horse transportation – 5 thousand rubles for one trip;
• special food for the horse;
• brushes, saddle, blanket and other accessories (they can be bought or rented).

Golf

Average check: about 230 thousand rubles for the first month.

Speaking of golf, you probably imagine an aristocratic Englishman playing in a needlepoint uniform on a perfectly cut lawn. Indeed, golf has long been called entertainment for the rich. A list of what a beginner will have to pay for:

• individual lessons with a coach at least 1-2 times a week – 5 thousand rubles per hour;
• clubs: Wood, Iron and Patter – 150-200 thousand rubles (you can rent for the first time);
• golf balls – 1.3 thousand rubles;
• outfit: pants, sweater, baseball cap and shoes – 20 thousand rubles.

Hockey

Average check: more than 300 thousand rubles per season.

Ice sport, which requires large investments at the initial level. A full set of equipment alone will surprise you with the number of necessary purchases. A beginning hockey player will have to set aside money for:

• skates – 10-15 thousand rubles;
• equipment: shields, shorts, bib, elbow pads, gloves, helmet and hockey stick – 23-40 thousand rubles;
• clothes for classes in the gym – 3 thousand rubles;
• season ticket to the state academy – Br3-8 thousand per month;
• training camps and guest matches – about Br200 thousand per season.

Figure skating

Average check: more than 250 thousand rubles per season.

In this sport, the expenses of athletes who make it to the national team are fully or partially paid by the figure skating federation. However, not everyone reaches the level of the national team. For example, Serafima Sakhanovich, a two-time junior world championship medalist, admitted in an interview that she spends about a million rubles a year. The funds are spent on:

• lessons at the sports school – 11 thousand rubles a month for children under six years old, after selection – free of charge;
• individual coaching with a coach – about 2 thousand rubles per hour;
• setting the program – from 15 thousand rubles;
• skates and blades – 15-60 thousand rubles;
• costume for performances (you need a set of several dresses) – 20-60 thousand rubles;
• a suit for training – 5 thousand rubles;
• clothes for classes in the gym – 3 thousand rubles.

Sailing

The average check: more than 180 thousand rubles for the first six months.

In professional sailing millions are spent only on the purchase of sailboats and their maintenance. The fact that nowadays sailing vessels are made of materials used in the construction of spacecrafts already says a lot.

Beginners do not need to buy their own boat, but no one will give you a yacht for rent (about 6 thousand rubles per hour) without a certificate. Approximate cost of courses in Moscow sailing schools:

• “Day sailing helmsman” – 30 thousand rubles;
• Bareboat Skipper IYT – 30 thousand rubles;
• Classes in radio communication – 6 thousand rubles.

A full set of equipment, consisting of waterproof pants, jacket, fleece jacket, wetsuit, safety vest, cylinders, boots and shoes, can be purchased for 26 thousand rubles.

Tennis

The average check: about 70 thousand rubles for the first month.

It is generally believed that tennis is an expensive and fashionable pleasure. They are fond of show business stars, businessmen and politicians. Naturally, they do it at the amateur level. What will a person who wants to play tennis professionally have to spend on?

• Court rent – 1.5-3 thousand rubles per hour (depends on the location, type of club and coverage on the court);
• About ten lessons with a coach – 2 thousand rubles per hour;

To save money, beginners prefer to practice in groups, where the costs are divided among all players.

• Equipment: tennis racket, balls, sneakers, clothes – about 27 thousand rubles.

Any professional sport requires financial investment. Therefore, deciding to engage in motor racing, figure skating or tennis, should soberly assess the financial possibilities. And with obvious talent and persistence, even the most expensive sport can eventually turn into a source of pleasure and income.