On February 23, the “Canada’s 7th Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Hero Competition,” sponsored by Tourism Canada, with Elan, Nordica, -2°C, and PICTURE as co-sponsors, was held at Nanshan Ski Resort. Riding on the momentum of Canadian women mogul skiers winning gold and silver medals at the Olympics, Alberta sent former freestyle skiing national team member CHELSEA HENITIUK (Chelsea Henituk) to serve as the head judge. Meanwhile, GLEN PLAKE (Glen Plake), known as the father of freestyle skiing and a pioneer of extreme skiing in the United States, served as the honorary head judge.
Since the first Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition was held on February 17, 2008, more and more skiing enthusiasts have participated, and the skill level of contestants has improved year by year. The widespread attention and participation have made this event one of the largest and most influential amateur skiing competitions in China. Domestic freestyle skiing experts gathered at Nanshan to present a visual feast for everyone.
Shortly after the registration channel for Canada’s 7th Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Hero Competition opened on the Nanshan official website (www.nanshanski.com), it quickly received responses from skiers. Within just a few days, the 30 spots for male participants and 10 for female participants were filled. These 40 contestants are all non-professional skiing enthusiasts who have mastered parallel short-radius turning techniques and have at least two seasons of mogul skiing practice. On the day before the competition, head judge CHELSEA HENITIUK (Chelsea Henituk) visited Nanshan Ski Resort to communicate with skiing enthusiasts on-site and provide technical guidance to the participants.
On February 23, during the preliminary round on the intermediate moguls slope, the contestants performed exceptionally well under the support of fans and media. After evaluating the contestants on three aspects—turning technique, speed, and jump skills—six male and six female contestants advanced to the finals in the afternoon, competing fiercely on the advanced moguls slope at Nanshan. In the end, Zhang Lingtian and Wei Yi won the men's and women's championships respectively, with Kong Xiangguang and Zhao Yuyan taking the runners-up. The four will travel to Alberta, Canada in mid-March for a Banff skiing trip, experiencing the natural powder snow at Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village, and enjoying the sights of Calgary.
As the largest city in Alberta, Calgary—also the host of the 1988 Winter Olympics—has integrated skiing into its history and culture, making it an inseparable part of the region. Here, several national parks located in the Rocky Mountains have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For over a century, Swiss mountaineers frequently explored the area, which spurred the development of ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
The Canada’s 7th Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Hero Competition winners will visit famous ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains region of Alberta. For example, Mt. Norquay Ski Resort has just entered its 85th anniversary, making it undoubtedly one of the oldest and most popular ski destinations. Its challenging double black diamond runs will satisfy the thrill-seeking desires of expert skiers. Sunshine Village, bathed in sunshine and mild weather, boasts high-quality winter snow, with depths reaching up to 9 meters. The resort’s renowned hotel can only be accessed by gondola, making it the only ski-in, ski-out accommodation in all of Alberta. Its thrilling Delirium Dive run features a natural bowl-shaped terrain, sure to bring a fresh rush of adrenaline to skiers.
Canada’s unique winter climate and geography have created numerous top-tier ski resorts. Its title as the host of two Winter Olympics further confirms its status as a world-class skiing destination. From Whistler and Big White in British Columbia on the west coast, to Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario and Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort in Quebec on the east coast, excellent snow quality and comprehensive, thoughtful facilities promise a memorable skiing holiday. In addition, you can try unique ice climbing in the snowy kingdom, experience fairy-tale-like dog sledding, or explore the romantic and mysterious northern lights. No matter what winter activity you love, you’ll find joy in Canada.
In addition to the skiing trip to Alberta, Canada, there are plenty of other prizes. Renowned Slovenian ski brand Elan, iconic Italian ski brand Nordica, -2°C—a brand offering extended-length hoodies tailored for freestyle and extreme skiing enthusiasts—and French fashion ski wear brand PICTURE provided professional skiing gear for the award winners. Although this annual snowy party has come to an end, the fun at Nanshan continues. To allow more people to experience the joy of skiing, Nanshan Ski Resort will offer free skiing for women on March 8. Follow Nanshan’s official WeChat account “nanshan-ski” to book your ski session and enjoy special discounted rates. More end-of-season promotions will also be announced on the WeChat platform.
