Srinagar, Nov 14: Taking full advantage of an early snowfall Department of Tourism, Kashmir in collaboration with SnowShoe Federation of India (SSFI) held an Invitational SnowShoe event at premier winter sports destination of Kashmir, Gulmarg on Sunday.
This season there has been early snowfall in the upper reaches of Kashmir, with Gulmarg receiving around one feet of snow. The setting was perfect for the conduct of a snowshoe event.
The plan was quickly put in motion by the Tourism department headed by Director Tourism FazLul Haseeb in coordination with President SSFI Mir Mudasir by providing the equipment and with Pine Palace Resort Gulmarg roped in as a sponsor to provide refreshments and lunch for the racers.
For the event, SSFI invited active SnowShoe racers, both boys and girls from various districts of Kashmir. Initially planned as a leisure event, the event later metamorphosed into into a competitive race.
The race was flagged off by Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg, Dr Javaid ur Rehman in presence of well known sports personality of J&K Bilquis Mir, J&K SnowShoe Association General Secretary Dr Altaf ur Rehman and SSFI Technical Committee head Tahir Mir.
Gulbadin Hekmatyar of Ganderbal finished first in boys section while as Sara emerged winner in the girls section.
Speaking on the occasion Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg, Dr Javaid ur Rehman said that this year it has been an early snowfall and the event provided a perfect precursor for the upcoming season.
“Such type of events are beneficial in terms of publicity for Kashmir tourism. SnowShoe doesn’t require too much snow and infrastructure. The Tourism Department of Kashmir will be supporting the activity as much as possible,” he added.
SSFI President Mir Mudassir said that SnowShoe or any other winter sports and Tourism are complementary with both helping each other.
“SSFI was founded in 2015 and since then we have been collaborating with Tourism Department Kashmir. Last season with the help of the Tourism Department, J&K hosted 6th National SnowShoe championship in Gulmarg that witnessed participation of more than 150 athletes from 15 States, Union territories of Country,” Mir Mudassir said.
“This time again it is going to be a SnowShoe gala throughout the season with SSFI planning a number of activities which wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Tourism Department,” he added.
