Radio Bulgaria

For some people snow is a condition for disaster, while others find true pleasure in the extreme winter conditions of the mountain. People in love with nature and the winter sports enjoy skiing outside the marked runs and not waiting in line to get on the lift. The only challenge is the physical abilities and skills to ski in the deep powder as it was in the beginning of the sport. This type of tourism has been attracting more and more young people looking for a different experience.

“Ski touring is not something new,” Ivan Salnikov, a lecturer in the Academy of Sports in Sofia explains. “Actually ski touring has existed since ancient time when skiing first appeared. Some 60 years ago there were not so many ski runs and lifts but people still went to the mountain to enjoy skiing. This type of tourism has revived some 15 years ago. Special bindings are used as well as climbing skins, which are removable pieces of fabric whose nap runs at an oblique angle, allowing the ski to glide forward, but not back when climbing a hill. This way people can climb a mountain, then remove the skins and lock the bindings in order to ski down the mountain. Expert skiers choose steeper and more extreme slopes, but these are well trained people with firm understanding of mountain craft. Special devices that help dicovering skiers buried in an avalanche are also used.”

Ivan Salnikov has established an alternative ski school for children and adults, who want to learn about ski touring and powder skiing.

“These days lift passes are very expensive, while ski touring is cheaper and provides better contact with nature. There are different types of routes and the choice of terrains is huge. More and more people are attracted to this type tourism and the price of necessary equipment is decreasing. All ski touring equipment has the common ability to free the heel for level and uphill travel. When you want to start skiing the heel is locked and the climbing skins are removed.”

When Ivan Salnikov was learning the mountain craft, skiing powder snow was obligatory, but the notion of extreme skiing did not exist. Now even Bulgarian Extreme Ski Federation exists. This type of skiing can be extreme as there is always a risk of avalanches off the beaten track.

“A number of foreigners keen on ski tourism choose Bulgaria as a destination because of the wonderful mountains. In Rila and Pirin skiers find unique conditions for extreme skiing. There are even a few organised competitions. Ski touring is not a mass sport yet but it is developing fast,” Ivan Salnikov concludes. 

English: Alexander Markov