Ski mountaineering extreme activities have been comprehensively upgraded, and the summer extravaganza is making a strong comeback

Ski mountaineering comprehensively upgraded, summer extravaganza making a strong comeback — 2013 Asian Ski Mountaineering Conference concludes successfully

On June 5, the Qinghai Gangshika Asian Ski Mountaineering Exchange Conference, jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Qinghai Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People's Government of Haibei Prefecture, was grandly concluded in Menyuan County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province. More than 60 ski mountaineering enthusiasts from Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong (China), and over 20 provinces and cities on the Chinese mainland participated in Gangshika Snow Mountain in Menyuan County, engaging in exchange activities focused on ski mountaineering skills such as ski mountaineering, alpine rescue, and snow search and rescue. They challenged themselves and competed fiercely. Ms. Rebecca, Vice President of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation, Mr. Ryu Han-gyu, President of the Asian Ski Mountaineering Federation, Ms. Nima Zhuoma, Secretary of the Haibei Prefecture Committee of Qinghai Province, and Ms. Yang Pei, Deputy Director of the Qinghai Provincial Sports Bureau, attended the closing ceremony and delivered speeches.
This is another promotion event for ski mountaineering held at Gangshika Snow Mountain after the strong collaboration between the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Qinghai Provincial Sports Bureau over the past two years to develop this high-altitude ski mountaineering sport. This year’s event has been upgraded to the highest-level ski mountaineering exchange activity in Asia, delivering a feast on the snow for domestic ski mountaineering extreme sports enthusiasts for three consecutive years, further promoting Chinese ski mountaineering culture to the world. Participants in this exchange conference improved comprehensively in equipment use, climbing, descending, rescue, and other aspects. The logistical support system of the event was enhanced, allowing participants to enjoy star-level services, laying the foundation for larger-scale events in the future.

This year’s event has been comprehensively upgraded compared to last year, adding men’s and women’s individual cross-country races and alpine avalanche rescue events. A total of 21 athletes participated in individual events, and 10 teams took part in the avalanche rescue competition. The men’s individual cross-country race was won by Park Sang-hyun from South Korea; the second and third places went to Yang Dong and Cheng Peng from China, respectively. The women’s individual cross-country race champion was Li Fang from China, with Yang Jing and Fu Xin ranking second and third.

Additionally, in the team avalanche rescue competition, the team of Fu Fengyuan, Cao Jipeng, and Song Yu, with a time of 2 minutes and 14 seconds, claimed the championship; Zhou Yonghui, Liu Xin, and Yang Fan came in second with a time of 2 minutes and 15 seconds; notably, the third-place team, with a time of 2 minutes and 23 seconds, was led by individual race champion Park Sang-hyun along with Fan Shouzan and Meng Jie.
Ski mountaineering is an outdoor sport that requires participants to have relatively high skills in both skiing and alpine climbing. Precisely because it combines the allure of two extreme sports—skiing and mountaineering—it has become very popular in Europe and America, and is also attracting more and more enthusiasts in China. The Qinghai Provincial Tourism Bureau, leveraging its advantageous natural conditions, has made further efforts to promote ski mountaineering and enhance national fitness, adding even more charm to the beautiful Qinghai.

Gangshika Snow Mountain, which has hosted two consecutive ski mountaineering exchange conferences, is located in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Known as the highest peak in the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains, it is also a key snow mountain developed by the Qinghai Provincial Mountaineering Association, with an average altitude of 4,045 meters and a main peak elevation of 5,254.5 meters. Every year from May to July is the best season for ski mountaineering on Gangshika Snow Mountain, with an average temperature of 12 degrees Celsius.

This year’s ski mountaineering exchange event received strong support from both the Haibei Prefecture Government and the Menyuan Hui Autonomous County Government of Haibei Prefecture in Qinghai Province. The successful conclusion of this event also received high praise from outdoor experts and participating enthusiasts.