Vladivostok - Alpine skiing has been gaining popularity in Primorsky Krai, a province in east Russia.
The ski resort Vostok, opened in 2008 and about 250km north-east of Vladivostok, is one of the province’s best and most popular. Every weekend and public holiday, skiers gather there.
Tourists are attracted by the slopes and the weather.
A skier, Dmitry Savchenko, said: “I have been skiing for more than 10 years in Europe, the Kamchatka (Peninsula in Russia) and many other places. I can say the slopes in Arsenev (in Primorsky Krai) are good. I hope skiing will get more developed in our region.”
There are ski slopes of varying lengths and difficulty.
The 300m slope is for beginners of all ages. Children from the age of 6 and adults can learn the basics of skiing or snowboarding from experienced instructors.
There are three slopes, 50m wide and 460m in length, and at different altitudes for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The longest slope, the “boomerang”, is 2 000m.
The shortest, 200m, is for snow-tubing and sledding.
Many people come here simply to enjoy the winter landscapes.
“Almost every weekend, our family visits this resort to get away from the city,” says Lubov Alekseeva.
“Unfortunately, we don’t ski because our children are too young – they can just do tubing. It’s a great place for families with children to spend their winter holiday.”
Xinhua