Xinhua News Agency, Xi’an, February 14 (Reporter Zheng Xin) – The first skiing conference in Shaanxi Province was held on the morning of the 14th in Liuba County, Hanzhong City. Approximately 1,000 professional athletes and outdoor enthusiasts gathered to ski passionately down the slopes at Zibai Mountain International Ski Resort, showing support for Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s joint bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The event featured professional competitions in both snowboarding and alpine skiing techniques. It attracted top skiers from Shaanxi, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang, as well as participants from Belgium and Germany. At the competition site, athletes representing 32 teams sped down international-standard slopes or performed stylish jumps and maneuvers, thrilling the audience.
In addition, to meet the recreational needs of skiing enthusiasts, the conference also included snow activities that combined competition and fun, such as snow discus throwing. Participants could compete individually or as families. Events like snowball fights and snow tug-of-war brought out the childlike joy in many adult participants, with laughter echoing across the snowy landscape. As the day coincided with Western Valentine’s Day, many couples and lovers joined in, adding a romantic touch to the festive atmosphere.
“This skiing conference combines professional competition with public recreation, marking a step toward the marketization and branding of winter sports in Shaanxi,” said Dong Li, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau. With the growing popularity of winter sports like skiing and the improvement of living standards, more and more people are taking up ice and snow activities, which has also helped raise the overall skill level of Shaanxi’s skiing enthusiasts.
“This is my first time skiing. I couldn’t even walk properly on the snowboard,” said Qu Lanxin, a fifth-grade student who competed in the family category. “A real man has to face his fears. Once I learned how to ski and brake, I hit the slopes. I hope to become a skiing champion in the future and watch the 2022 Winter Olympics live.”
Aside from competing, participants also took time to visit the locally distinctive “Liuhou Old Market,” experiencing traditional folk culture including old-market fairs, mountain produce shopping, and tributes to Zhang Liang.
As one of the largest and most fully equipped ski resorts in Shaanxi Province, Zibai Mountain International Ski Resort in Liuba currently covers an area of 300 acres, with a snow-making area of 60,000 square meters and a capacity to accommodate 4,000 to 6,000 people simultaneously. It is expected that after the completion of all three phases of construction, the resort will be able to host professional skiing instruction, training, as well as international and domestic competitions.
