International skiers take to the slopes in Pakistan
Skiers descend in long, rhythmic swoops down pristine white
slopes in northern Pakistan, braking in a spray of snow as soldiers carrying
semi-automatic weapons watch impassively.
Dozens of athletes took part at a rare international
competition in the South Asian country, which boasts some of the world's
highest mountains but remains off-piste for most winter sports enthusiasts
after years of conflict and a lack of infrastructure, AFP reported.
Nestled in the Karakoram mountain range, the Naltar Ski
Resort has been at the heart of Pakistan's efforts to draw winter sport
tourists since the first international competition was held there in 2015.
"Pakistan has a lot of things to learn but with every
year it's getting better," said Ukrainian skier Anastasiia Gorbunova, who
admitted she used to think it was a "pretty dangerous country".
Nestled in the Karakoram mountain range, the Naltar Ski
Resort has been at the heart of Pakistan's efforts to draw winter sport
tourists since the first international competition was held there in 2015.
"Pakistan has a lot of things to learn but with every
year it's getting better," said Ukrainian skier Anastasiia Gorbunova, who
admitted she used to think it was a "pretty dangerous country".
"Now I know it's a cliché because as I saw, people are
sweet, they are nice, they try to make you feel like you're at home and I
appreciate that."
Security has dramatically improved across Pakistan following
a crackdown on militant groups in recent years.
Authorities recently re-opened another resort in the nearby
Swat Valley that had been closed for years by insurgent activity, while other
ski facilities are being developed elsewhere in the country.
Laura Moore, a representative of the International Ski
Federation with the Azerbaijan team, said Pakistan boasted unrivaled ski
conditions.
But she added that lengthy road travel and the regular
grounding of flights during inclement weather made access to ski fields a
tricky prospect — "off-piste and maybe with a helicopter".
"I think it's definitely more for the adventurer,"
Moore said at Sunday's competition.
Pakistan is home to several peaks higher than 8,000 meters
including K2, the second-tallest mountain in the world.
Skiers at the Naltar event were hosted by the Pakistan Air
Force, who own the ski resort and facilitated their transport from the capital
Islamabad.
"Not all countries have mountains like this,"
Berkin Usta, a Turkish skier who won the men's Grand Slalom event. "It's
really good."