International skiers promotes heli-skiing in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - Professional skiers from around the world gathered in Srinagar, on Sunday to take off on choppers and indulge in heli-skiing down the slopes of Gulmarg.

Heli-skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter and not with the help of a skiing lift.

Top international professional skiers including Sylvan Sudan, known as the “impossible skier” for having skied on some of the world’s most difficult slopes, were among the few present to take up the challenge in India.

Sudan is believed to have been one of the few climbers to have scaled the Hidden Peak - known as K5 - which is Pakistan’s third highest mountain.

“We have organised and called all the major skiers from around the world this year, mainly to promote heli-skiing as it is not noticed in India. Skiers when they would return to their place, they would spread a message that Kashmir is best for heli-skiing. As (professional skier) Sylvan Sudan also said that there is no better place than India in the world as far as heli-skiing is concerned,” said Farooq Shah, Director, Tourism, Kashmir.

Skiers seemed excited as they boarded the helicopter, which took them all the way to Gulmarg valley, where they were dropped off to ski.

“There are very few places left on the earth that not many people have skied and not a lot people have touched, and there is so much untouched. So, to have this opportunity to ski in Himalayas and be able to ski with legendary skiers is a dream come true,” said Richard Allan, a professional skier from US.

The best and longest skiing slopes in Gulmarg can be accessed by the Gondola Cable Car Lift, which allows a ski run of 2,213 meters, a treat to the ski lovers.

Newly introduced Gondola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat makes Gulmarg one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. (ANI)