SFP acquires snow-pressing machine

Pakistan skiing close in on standards required to host international events

KARACHI: The Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) will be one step closer in their quest to fulfil the requirement of hosting international events as they are set to install a snow-pressing machine in Naltar, Gilgit-Baltistan this month.

So far, the SFP has been unable to host any International Ski Federation (FIS) events due to the absence of chairlifts — which has now been installed — and snow-pressing machines.

Last year, the FIS also sent its officials to grade the Naltar skiing slope to determine its eligibility to hold world-level tournaments.



“The snow-pressing machine is very important for us,” SFP secretary Air Commodore Qaswar Abbas Naqvi told The Express Tribune. “This means we’ll get the ideal carpeted snow in just 10 to 15 minutes. Manually, it would require the skiers to press the snow before every competition, but with that it takes two days to prepare the track. It was hectic and time-consuming.”

Naqvi added that SFP acquired the snow-pressing machine from Germany and it will be transported from Karachi to Islamabad within the coming two weeks, after which it will be taken to Naltar.



“We will be using the machine this season with all the national championships taking place soon,” said the official. “While this machine also helps preserve the pressed snow, it will most importantly help us successfully organise standard international events.”

Naqvi further said the quality of the snow track will also improve with the use of the equipment.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2016.

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