Ski season to kick-off from New Year

Dates dependent upon the weather and the level of the snow at Naltar

KARACHI: The Skiing Federation of Pakistan (SFP) will hold the skiing season in January; however the lack of snow at Naltar may push the dates of the event.

The SFP officials also ensured complete security to the athletes at the month-long season that is scheduled to begin on January 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the SFP spokesperson Obaidur Rehman Abbasi, the show must go on despite the current situation in the country.

“We’ll be providing fool-proof security to the skiers,” Abbasi told The Express Tribune. “In fact we are expecting more skiers this time.

“The show must go on and we are fully prepared for the championship, but we are waiting for the snow. It all depends on the forecast now.”

Abbasi said that it is in fact the people’s enthusiasm that will make this season a better one compared to the previous year. He said that the SFP management including the President Athar Hussain Bukhari is excited about the upcoming events for women, children and men.

“It’s like a festival,” said Abbasi. “The athletes are excited, but mostly the locals in Naltar are very welcoming and hopeful. It’s their bread and butter really. We are also getting teams from Sindh and Quetta. So this is a mega event for skiers.”

Abbasi said that a huge attraction will be the chairlift and celebrating the international snow day in Naltar which will fall on January 18, according to the International Ski Federation.

The championship will feature athletes from government and semi-government sports departments like Nadra, Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan, HEC, Adventure Foundation, along with four provincial teams and regional side from Islamabad.

Other teams including Alpine Club of Pakistan, Pakistan Navy, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, Pakistan Army and hosts PAF will also participate in the events.

 

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