As winter approaches, it’s the busiest season for ski resorts. Recently, reporters at the Duolemeidi Ski Resort spotted a group of foreign instructors wearing green hats training Chinese ski coaches. Out of curiosity about the foreign ski instructors, the reporters interviewed Mr. FABIO, the head of the "Green Hat" coaches and dean of the China-Switzerland International Ski Academy.
Although Italian by nationality, FABIO speaks fluent Mandarin. “These instructors in green hats are senior coaches from the Swiss National Snow Sports Association. The association has a history of over a hundred years in Switzerland and operates more than 180 ski training institutions worldwide, having trained numerous highly skilled professional ski instructors.”
FABIO continued by saying that China’s ski training industry is still in its early stages. To help more Chinese people fall in love with skiing and reduce ski-related injuries, they came to China from Switzerland, bringing with them a systematic and scientific ski training system. Their goal is to attract more skiing enthusiasts to Chongli, a fertile ground for skiing. “We are very eager to contribute to China’s ski training efforts.” His words reveal FABIO’s deep affection for China and its skiing industry.
This time, the Swiss National Snow Sports Association selected three senior coaches to provide 15 days of ski training for the instructors at Duolemeidi Ski Resort. Three of them will be permanently stationed at the resort to offer professional guidance to the ski school. In line with the snow trail management standards of Chinese ski resorts, they have developed corresponding ski teaching courses, divided into three levels—green, blue, and black runs—and have implemented a rigorous grading system for instructors. At the end of each ski season, outstanding instructors from the ski academy will have the opportunity to train at the Swiss National Snow Sports Center, and upon completion, will be awarded internationally recognized ski instructor certifications.
It is understood that the Swiss National Snow Sports Association chose to partner with Duolemeidi Ski Resort mainly because of Chongli’s skiing resources. Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s joint bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics has drawn global attention to Chongli, known as the “Davos of the East.” As the true home of Davos, foreign ski institutions are also eager to see what the Eastern Davos has to offer.
FABIO explained that they conducted thorough market research beforehand. The Duolemeidi Ski Resort was originally co-invested in and built by Italy’s LEITNER company and Italy’s DOLOMITI Super Ski Group. Its slope designs and equipment all follow European standards, making it a truly European-style ski resort. Another advantage is that the snow quality here is similar to that of the Alps, giving visitors a sense of being back home. The resort currently has eight slopes with a total length of over eight kilometers, marked in green, blue, and black according to international standards, catering to beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers alike. During each ski season, among the 1.42 million visitors who come to Chongli for skiing and tourism, Duolemeidi Ski Resort is highly popular among skiers for its world-class high-end facilities, high-quality slope construction, and considerate, personalized services.
Additionally, according to Wang Li, chairwoman of Duolemeidi, the resort will begin trial operations on November 22. The opening party will feature not only exciting performances but also super prizes. From November 22 to November 28 during the trial operation period, there will be multiple discounts for skiing enthusiasts, including a 20% discount on cable car tickets, 50% off on ski equipment, 50% off on hotel stays, and newly available beds at the International Youth Apartment. Visitors will also have the chance to experience the unique training provided by the Green Hat instructors.
