MINGORA: A large number of tourists thronged the Malam Jabba ski resort on Saturday to witness the concluding day of a two-day ski festival.

Four teams comprising 21 skiers participated in the festival jointly organised by the Samson Group of Companies and the Swat district administration. Live folk music, tubing and other snow-related activities were also part of the festival.

Local skiers who participated in the skiing competition said that such competitions should be regularly organised at national and international levels to help them polish their skills for international skiing.

Barkat Ali, a skier who represented the DC Swat team, said that he had been engaged in skiing since his childhood and had learnt it without the help of any trainer. “I grew up amid snowfall and since childhood I along with friends used to ski wearing simple wooden equipment made by ourselves,” he told Dawn, He said that taking part in professional skiing was his dream.

Local skiers ask government to organise skiing competition on annual basis

Another local skier, Izzat Ali from Malam Jabba, who secured first position in the competition, said that he had passion for skiing and was very excited to perform in front of so many spectators.

“I have been skiing since 2002 and have participated in the international skiing championship,” he said. He called upon the government to organise a skiing competition every year so that local skiers could gain professional skills.

Mr Ali said that he wanted to become an international skier and regularly take part in international skiing events.

Ahmad Ali, who had come to Malam Jabba with friends from Rawalpindi, said that they had been watching skiing on television. “This is our first time to watch a live skiing competition. I loved watching live skiing as it is a spectacular and unbelievable skill.” Besides, he said, he and his friends enjoyed snow and threw snowballs at each other.

Khalilur Rehman, an official of the Samson Group of Companies, said that the ski festival was organised to provide entertainment to the people of Pakistan and promote tourism in Swat.

“The event not only provided entertainment to thousands of tourists and local spectators but also helped in promoted skiing. I am sure the beautiful site of Malam Jabba will attract more professional skiers very soon,” he said.

On Saturday, weather remained severely cold in Swat as rainfall in the plains and snowfall in the hilly areas began early morning. Malam Jabba, Miandam, Parona Chinar, Sangar, Mankial, Kalam, Utror and Ushu valleys received heavy snowfall.

Tourists and spectators who visited Malam Jabba to witness the ski festival also enjoyed snowfall which, according to them, added a lot to their fun.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018