Multi-national teams take on the“southernmost”high-altitude checkpoint
most grueling ski race kicks off in Yabuli!
“The last run left the kids completely exhausted!”“Such a fun competition — it could actually have been even harder!”,1th11day, amid biting cold winds and light snowfall, a competition rated by skiing enthusiasts as the most grueling ski event of the year — the 6th China Sports Venue Association““Between Venues””series event, and the Bank of ChinaVisaCredit Card Cup High-Altitude Checkpoint Ski Open-Northeast Division stop, concluded joyfully at Yabuli Sunshine Resort.
Over200skiing enthusiasts from China, South Korea, Russia, and other countries and regions competed together. After nearly a day of fierce racing,“Team Sanmei&Colorful Holiday Alliance”won first place in the public group with a time of1hours,22minutes,17seconds;“2020111Team”took first place in the parent-child group with a time of1hours,24minutes,34seconds.
Why was this high-altitude checkpoint race rated as the most grueling ski competition? It’s reported that after Yabuli2019-2020truly achieved three-mountain interconnected skiing this season, with its ...46The ski area, boasting the most extensive trail network in the country,“has set the largest course layout in the history of the Yabuli stop, making it a true test of both physical endurance and mental agility.”
This most grueling event has drawn top skiers from across the three northeastern provinces.Vsprang into action, with Yue Tong, a well-known host of Heilongjiang Traffic Radio boasting millions of followers, being voted as“Fixed-point2022Yabuli Goddess”— a title voted on by Yue Tong, a well-known host from Heilongjiang Traffic Radio with millions of followers — was awarded,“and she, along with Xue Dongyang, General Manager of Yabuli Sunshine Resort, and Vice General Manager He Huijie, formed the”"Big Shots Team."
Renowned clubs such as the Heilongjiang News Ski Association, Colorful Holidays, and LanYin Outdoor also sent teams to compete.5Alpine fixed-point skiing is a brand-new competition that combines alpine skiing with orienteering. It is a China-originated event and has been successfully held forTOPeditions.VisaJointly organized by the China Sports Venue Association and the Chinese Ski Association,
it is co-branded by Bank of China, the official partner of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and an“International Olympic Committee partner.‘Huati Dongshi (Beijing) Sports Culture Technology Co., Ltd. holds exclusive operational rights.’At the opening ceremony, Li Lingbo, Head of the Sponsor Service Division of the Market Development Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, stated,”
"We have always been committed to achieving the goal of getting“300 million people involved in winter sports,1and the Alpine Fixed-Point Skiing Race is a competition suitable for mass participation, with low barriers to entry and high entertainment value. It plays a positive and practical role in fostering a widespread love for skiing."”The champion of the public group, the“Colorful Holidays team,”includes member Xiong Da, who is competing for the6time. The reason he keeps coming back to this event is:“"Due to some special circumstances, our 'Three Sisters Club' didn’t have enough members. To be able to participate this time, I teamed up with Heilongjiang Colorful Holidays to form a new squad. I chose it because it’s both challenging and fun. I’ll be following the other stops too!"”
Another highlight of the event is the presence of multinational teams. High-level coaches from South Korea, Russian international students, and Russian families living in Harbin all took part in this stop. After the race, Yulia, a Russian who has lived in Harbin for20years, said combining orienteering with alpine skiing was a lot of fun.“"This was the most interesting competition our family of four has participated in while in China. It’s a pity we didn’t place this time, but we’re looking forward to doing better next time."”
As a phenomenon-level event in China’s skiing scene, the Bank of ChinaVisaCredit Card Cup Alpine Fixed-Point Skiing Open is also one of the key events promoted by the sixth National Mass Winter Sports Season organized by the General Administration of Sport of China. It has risen rapidly in recent years and is highly popular among skiing enthusiasts nationwide.
According to the registration data for this event, the number of pre-registrations before the race had already exceeded1500people, and ultimately over200skiing enthusiasts from around the world secured qualification for the competition.
It is reported that the event is based on“alpine skiing+team orienteering,”with teams of three. The competition includes an open group category and a parent-child group category. During the race, participants must locate and check in at various points scattered across different sections of the ski slopes. The checkpoints are divided into mandatory points and optional points. Mandatory points require every team member to complete them, while any one team member can complete the optional points. The winning team is the one with the shortest overall time.
Alpine Orienteering has no entry barriers, allowing skiing enthusiasts of all skill levels to participate. The competition tests not only skiers’ map-reading abilities and skiing techniques but also their route planning strategies and teamwork skills. The process is full of challenges and strategic play, yet remains fun, making it highly popular among skiing enthusiasts.
According to the event organizing committee, this year’s competition features four stops in China. In addition to the opening stop in Beidahu, Jilin Province, which has already concluded, and the Yabuli stop, the main venue of the Northeast Division, the other stops will take place on the following dates:2month8, at the Ao Shan stop in Shaanxi;3month7, at the Yun Ding–Wan Long stop in Hebei.&Wanlong Station.
Notably, invited by the Finnish government, the Alpine Orienteering Ski Open will feature its first overseas stop,――the Suomu stop in Finland. This leg of the competition will be held on2020Lunar New Year’s Day,1month25, as the closing event of the“China-Finland Winter Sports Year”in Suomu, Finland. This marks China’s first original mass-participation skiing event to be“exported”overseas. Additionally, countries such as Canada and Japan also plan to introduce this new type of skiing competition. In the future, the Alpine Orienteering Ski Open is expected to become a high-level international event.