Team visits Lahaul to explore ski slopes for championship

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Our Correspondent

Kullu, January 25

A team of the Ski and Snowboard India (SSI) and the Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association visited Lahaul and Spiti district to explore new ski slopes for conducting a state-level ski and snowboarding competition in Manali and Lahaul.

The opening of the Atal Tunnel has created new scope for promoting winter sports in the Lahaul area. The team looked for an alternative to Solang Nullah slopes and explored new slopes at Dhundi near Manali and Sissu and Gondhla in the Chandra valley at Lahaul.

SSI general secretary Roop Chand Negi said the technical committee reviewed the availability of snow in the Lahaul valley to conduct the state championship. He said the amount of snow was not adequate in Lahaul valley for the championship and survey of slopes of Hamta Pass would be done to determine feasibility to hold the championship. He said the championship was being planned in February.

Negi said the selection committee of Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association will finalise sportspersons for various events for the Junior National Championship to be held at Gulmarg in Kashmir from February 6 to 10. He added that sportspersons of Himachal will also participate in the senior national championship to be held in Auli at Uttarakhand during the first week of March. He added that an open championship could also be conducted near Koksar in Lahaul during March or April.

Officials of the Lahaul and Spiti district administration and members of the Sissu panchayat also assisted the technical committee in carrying out the survey of slopes and snow.

Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Rai said the inauguration of the Atal Tunnel had opened new avenues for promoting winter sports in the valley and this will also enhance the talent of the local youth. He added that this will also promote tourism in the valley and provide opportunities to locals to develop new sources of livelihood.

The SSI is the main body of ski and snowboarding in the country after the Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI) was de-recognised by the Sports Ministry in 2018 due to irregularities in the elections. The SSI has been recognised as a “full member” of the International Ski Federation (FIS), the apex body for international winter sports.