Yabuli Ski Resort is urgently making snow.
Yesterday’s first major snowfall, while causing many inconveniences to urban traffic, has gotten skiers excited. In preparation for this skiing season, major ski resorts around Harbin and skiing enthusiasts have been eager to get started, bustling with activity more than half a month ago. It is understood that Yabuli Ski Resort is expected to open on the 15th, over 10 days earlier than last year. Ski resorts of all sizes around Harbin will also gradually begin operations later this month, and skiing enthusiasts have already started their "gear shopping spree."
Competition: Ski resorts rush to make snow and claim the first opening
To "compete" for this skiing season, major ski resorts are making artificial snow ahead of schedule and vying to open earlier. It is understood that Jilin Songhua Lake Ski Resort is expected to open on the 14th, Yabuli Ski Resort on the 15th, and other nearby ski resorts in our city are also in the process of making snow, with openings expected by the end of the month.
Hearing that Jilin Songhua Lake will host this year’s first ski run for enthusiasts on the 14th, a local skier nicknamed “Mouse” hurriedly took a train to Songhua Lake on the 2nd to “scout the location.” He told reporters that this year, in the race to attract skiers, major ski resorts began promotional activities half a month earlier than usual, and the timing of artificial snow production has also been significantly moved up. Reporters learned from Yabuli Ski Resort that snow-making began around October 20th, with the resort expected to open on the 15th this month, and at the latest by the 20th to fully welcome guests.
Yesterday, reporters learned from ski resorts around Harbin such as WuJimi, Jihua, Mao’ershan, and Dadingshan that these resorts began working overtime to make artificial snow a week ago. Due to yesterday’s snowfall, many ski resorts have received calls from skiers asking when they will open. Although the ski resorts are eager to welcome guests and skiers are keen to try this winter’s first run, it will still be until later this month before ski resorts around Harbin are fully operational.
Hot Sales: Mid-range gear costs at least tens of thousands
With the early arrival of this winter’s skiing season, ski equipment at major ski shops in our city has also seen early hot sales. Whether you’re a beginner or a hardcore enthusiast, having fun and staying safe means “gear shopping” is an essential part of the skiing experience. Reporters learned from a local shop specializing in imported equipment that a basic set of skiing gear can cost tens of thousands of yuan, even reaching several tens of thousands, and this year’s hot sales period started more than half a month earlier than last year.
It is understood that there are five or six professional ski shops in our city. Reporters found that by the end of October, various types of skiing equipment had already entered the hot sales season. Helmets (beanies), goggles, clothing, gloves, poles, protective gear, skis, boots, and socks are all among the best-selling items. A pair of ski goggles ranges from several hundred to over a thousand yuan, ski boards range from several thousand to tens of thousands, and a single snowboard also costs several thousand. Choosing a mid-range set of equipment will cost at least tens of thousands.
According to the owner of a shop specializing in snowboarding gear in Daoli District, this year’s gear sales boom started more than half a month earlier than usual. This may be related to the earlier opening dates of ski resorts. Most customers buying gear at specialty stores are skiing “enthusiasts” or hobbyists, many of whom are skilled skiers with higher requirements for protective gear. With the popularization of skiing, the number of female and youth skiers has surged.
Booming: Training sign-ups up fourfold year-on-year
Along with skiing gear, various ski training camps have also seen early hot sales. Reporters learned from the Famiglia Ski Training Agency that ski training courses priced around 3,000 yuan are in high demand. Adult and family-oriented training camps began accepting registrations as early as the end of October, with this year’s sign-up numbers being five times last year’s. Meanwhile, some ski training classes in partnership with ski resorts have also started recruiting students.
Yesterday, Ms. Liu, a resident, signed her fifth-grade son up for a winter vacation family snowboarding training camp. She said, “We didn’t get a spot last winter vacation, so we signed up early this year, but we’re not the earliest — only half the spots are left.”