Foreign coach to train state skiers

Srinagar, March 17

The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) has engaged a foreign coach to train 25 state youngsters in advance skiing to prepare them for representing the country at global level, Principal of the institute JS Dhillon said today.

“As part our efforts to hone the skills of the local youth, we have engaged Italian coach Nadia Burtolozzi to train 25 young skiers from different parts of the state in advance skiing lessons so that they could participate in national and international competitions,” Dhillon said on the sidelines of a function organised at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, 55 km from here, in north Kashmir.

The IISM was set up at Gulmarg by the Union Tourism Department in 1969 with the aim to introduce adventure sports among the youth and to promote the tourism industry.

The institute imparts technical training and conducts various courses such as snow skiing, water skiing, trekking and mountaineering programmes in Kashmir and Ladakh.

Besides, the institute proposes to start white water rafting in Lidder and Sindh rivers and paragliding at Gulmarg, Yousmarg and Sonmarg as well as higher reaches. — PTI