Snowy slopes: After 4-yr-gap, Auli may host winter games this year

  • | Wednesday | 16th January, 2019

The lone helipad is at Gauchar, two hours away," said SS Pangti, former president of the Uttarakhand Winter Games Association. Dhaundriyal said that they are also subsequently trying to host the South-Asian Skiing Championship — last held in 2011 at Auli. The games were last held at Auli in 2015. We have held practice sessions on the slopes and everything went well.”Experts however said that Auli was still not ready to hold international competitions. “We do not have optimal slopes for holding multiple events which are required in case of international championships.

Dehradun: A good amount of snowfall and sub-zero temperatures in the Badrinath region may lead to Auli, situated near the shrine town and regarded by many as one of the best skiing destinations in the country, finally hosting the national winter games in the first week of February. The games were last held at Auli in 2015. Absence of adequate snowfall had prevented them from being organised in subsequent years.Officials of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), the nodal agency for the games, told TOI that they are confident that this year, enough snow will be available on the slopes. “The temperature this year has consistently been below zero degrees. Coupled with the continuous snowfall, the snow-making machine that we have imported is also producing snow,” said RP Dhaundriyal, publicity in-charge, GMVN.He added that the winter games will start with the National Junior Skiing Championship in the first week of February followed by the National Skiing Championship. Dhaundriyal said that they are also subsequently trying to host the South-Asian Skiing Championship — last held in 2011 at Auli. “The environment is finally apt for the games. We have prepared the tracks and the schedule for the games will also be released soon,” Dhaundriyal said.The snow-making machines which had been purchased by the state government with assistance from the central government had been lying dysfunctional for years. According to Dhaundriyal, the machines could not be used because the temperature did not allow production of snow. “For years, the temperature did not go below zero degrees. If the temperature is above zero, the machine cannot operate effectively and produces water instead of snow,” he said.Kamal Kishore, a ski instructor based in Auli, added that “the snowfall this year has made the slopes perfect for holding competitions.” “The thickness is good and the texture, too, is perfect. We have held practice sessions on the slopes and everything went well.”Experts however said that Auli was still not ready to hold international competitions. “We do not have optimal slopes for holding multiple events which are required in case of international championships. Auli also currently doesn’t have reliable transport facilities. Neither is there any airport in the vicinity. The lone helipad is at Gauchar, two hours away," said SS Pangti, former president of the Uttarakhand Winter Games Association.

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