Why I Like Skiing, reason #455
December 17th, 2009Posted in Skiing Everywhere
“Dear skiers! Downhill skiing demands awareness. Advanced skier’s speed while descending the slope can reach 100 km/hour. In the places of mass skiing inexperienced and undisciplined skier is the serious danger for the others.” From the Bukovel Ski Slope Rules and Etiquette. “Obeying the rules will help you to have an exciting and effective rest on our slopes.”
One of the things that has always made skiing a cool sport for me is that it is so international- at least in countries where winter occurs.
Ever since I was a very young skier I’ve been longing to explore more of the diverse ski regions of the world. Lately I’ve been looking into the way the sport of skiing is growing in other parts of the world, including China, India and as well as the former USSR.
Where are most of the world’s biggest mountain ranges and highest mountains? Hmm. Where has modern economics finally been fashioned to allow the growth of a sizable middle class, a chunk of mankind that now numbers in the hundreds of millions? If even just a tiny percentage of the increasingly affluent Chinese and Indians become skiers, that’s a lot of skiers. Millions, in fact. Last year I read that something like a hundred ski areas are being built or planned in China. India is building its first western style luxury ski resort- with American money. While skier numbers in the U.S. may continue to stagnate, the sport will see real growth in India, China and in much of the former USSR’s territory. Ski manufacturers and lift manufacturers must be salivating at the prospect of selling to this giant market!
Tonight I was learning about Ukraine’s biggest ski resort, Bukovel. To be honest, it doesn’t appeal to me as a place I’d travel half way around the world to ski, (its a bit too flatish and smallish to travel that far to ski), but I definitely enjoyed reading its website’s version of English. Just like I love talking to heavily accented foreigners on chairlift rides, reading Bukovel’s website reminded me again that skiing appeals to people from all over and from all walks of life and brings us together to enjoy a common passion. We’re all friends when we’re on skis aren’t we? Isn’t that a great reason to like this sport? Sure there is usually some one-upsmanship present when locals want to prove themselves to visitors and vice-versa, but isn’t that part of the fun?
I hope American ski websites provide some entertainment to foreign visitors by offering attempts at translations into French, German, Japanese and Chinese too.
“Our ski-schools are geared to offer you great fun whilst you learn. Our ski instructors are all highly qualified and are the friendliest of people found on the slopes. They speak perfect English.”
After seeing photos of the mountains I think the artist took a little liberty with the vertical distortion here. Looks like a lot more than its 1600 vertical feet doesn’t it? But maybe its the Eurasian equivalent of Whitewater Resort in Canada- serious skiing on modest vertical..
Jennifer Lancey commented:
I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
snowman commented:
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I hope you find interesting things in the future- and I hope you don’t out-source me!