Adventure Magazine
Camping and tramping issue
Camping and tramping issue
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It quickly became clear that the Koh-e-Baba mountains were<br />
perfect for backcountry skiing – we were already organising<br />
cultural tours to Afghanistan and are passionate about adventure<br />
sports, so the opportunity to be part of the Afghan skiing story<br />
from its inception, was an opportunity we couldn’t see pass us by.<br />
Around the same time a Swiss journalist formed the Afghan Ski<br />
Challenge race, now known as the Afghan Peaks Ski Race. The<br />
annual event brings together international visitors and a hardy<br />
Afghan contingent, who often use homemade skis, made out of<br />
planks of wood.<br />
We coincide our annual ski trips to Afghanistan with the race<br />
– guests take part in the competition, but it’s also a wonderful<br />
opportunity for visitors to mix with the Afghan ski community.<br />
Some guests help by offering ski coaching for Afghans, others<br />
help raise funds to improve local facilities, take part in work to<br />
reduce avalanche risk and everyone enjoys a wonderful cultural<br />
exchange, with a shared love of skiing.<br />
"Some guests help by<br />
offering ski coaching for<br />
Afghans, others help raise<br />
funds to improve local<br />
facilities, take part in<br />
work to reduce avalanche<br />
risk and everyone enjoys<br />
a wonderful cultural<br />
exchange, with a shared<br />
love of skiing."<br />
We’ve watched the Afghan ski community blossom, with ski rental<br />
services now available in Bamian, thanks to funds raised by the<br />
Gear 4 Guides organisation and other groups.<br />
Afghanastan - Image by Neil Silverton
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