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"After the Fact: Lukashenko’s Decisions"
The Logoisk alpine skiing sports and recreation center, the first one in Belarus, was inaugurated in February 2004. At that time, it had the main slope with a chairlift and two operating slopes. Aleksandr Lukashenko tested the track and even helped a young skier. In addition to the slopes, the center offered ski and snowboard rentals and a hot meals bar. Two water reservoirs were made for artificial snow production. In general, the Logoisk center blazed the trail in many ways as it host the country’s first national tournament in alpine skiing and the first “night skiing”. In this episode we will tell you what kind of sport Lukashenko considers the most effective. How do ski centers cope with warm winters? Why does the country need the ski production?
How was Silichi ski center built in Belarus?
About a year later, another national ski center opened in Belarus - Silichi. This year it celebrated its 20th anniversary. The unique recreation place for active travelers is located in a lowland between hills covered with endless forests.
“We have a pleasant event today. Today we officially open the Silichi National Ski Center. When I first visited Logoisk District, I was struck by the beauty of these places. We started working on it then, we started thinking about how to use these beautiful landscapes for the benefit of our people. The idea was really ambitious, namely to create a fitness and recreation ski center, which is a unique project for Belarus. I want to thank the workers who took part in the construction of this complex. I want to wish everyone health, success for the good of our country, for the good of our Belarus,” the head of state said at the opening of the Silichi National Ski Center in January 2005.
By the way, all these ambitious projects have been accomplished. Ice palaces and arenas have been built. The Silichi ski center has also changed since then.
“When the complex opened, it had five slopes. At the moment, 20 years on, we have more than 11 slopes. These are slopes for skiing and snowboarding, tubing, slopes for beginners, and slopes for children,” said Diana Pavlovich, Chief Marketer at the Silichi center.
This winter has put the complex to the test. But it is impossible to change weather. Thus, whenever the temperature falls below zero, specialists use every minute to make snow. They have fifteen snow guns at their disposal. At first, they took care of the main slopes in order to get the season started.
About a year later, another national ski center opened in Belarus - Silichi. This year it celebrated its 20th anniversary. The unique recreation place for active travelers is located in a lowland between hills covered with endless forests.
“We have a pleasant event today. Today we officially open the Silichi National Ski Center. When I first visited Logoisk District, I was struck by the beauty of these places. We started working on it then, we started thinking about how to use these beautiful landscapes for the benefit of our people. The idea was really ambitious, namely to create a fitness and recreation ski center, which is a unique project for Belarus. I want to thank the workers who took part in the construction of this complex. I want to wish everyone health, success for the good of our country, for the good of our Belarus,” the head of state said at the opening of the Silichi National Ski Center in January 2005.
“Next in line is a big ice arena with the capacity of 13,000-15,000. This is so ambitious that I am scared to say it out loud. People are ready to come, to hold competitions. It's good investment, it's good for the economy. But we need to find investors. Secondly, we need to build several ice rinks for children. For adults in cities of regional subordination,” the president said.
What has changed in Silichi since launch?
What has changed in Silichi since launch?
By the way, all these ambitious projects have been accomplished. Ice palaces and arenas have been built. The Silichi ski center has also changed since then.
“When the complex opened, it had five slopes. At the moment, 20 years on, we have more than 11 slopes. These are slopes for skiing and snowboarding, tubing, slopes for beginners, and slopes for children,” said Diana Pavlovich, Chief Marketer at the Silichi center.
This terrain is unique. The elevation difference reaches 35 meters. You cannot find such terrain anywhere else in Belarus. These slopes are suitable for both newbies and confident skiers and snowboarders.
“There are slopes for people with different levels of training, including complete beginners. This is an educational and training complex. We have slopes with a small inclination where you can safely make your first steps in skiing. After getting some practice, you can move on to the so-called green and blue slopes to hone your skills. These slopes are longer and steeper. Confident skiers who want to try something new, something extreme, can use the so-called black slopes that are also equipped for freestyle skiing,” Diana Pavlovich noted.
What does Silichi have to offer to visitors?
This winter has put the complex to the test. But it is impossible to change weather. Thus, whenever the temperature falls below zero, specialists use every minute to make snow. They have fifteen snow guns at their disposal. At first, they took care of the main slopes in order to get the season started.
“The perfect temperature for snowmaking is usually from -8°C to -10°C. Within this temperature range the productivity of snow guns is much higher. But this year we had to make snow at -2°C. Of course, it takes more time and effort. But we did what we could. We worked around the clock for several weeks, in several shifts to make the slopes,” Diana Pavlovich said.
Skiing is not the only reason why people come to a ski resort. The Silichi complex has plenty of other activities on offer. In December 2023, an indoor swimming pool with saunas, as well as a gym, spa rooms and a yoga studio opened in Silichi. Several rooms in the hotel were upgraded to suites. Although the previous ski season lasted only three months, the complex saw high attendance.
“Statistics suggest that 825,000 entries were made to our four-seat cable car. This number of entries does not equal the number of people who visited the complex. It means the number of times the ski pass was applied to the turnstile. Given that visitors come here not only for skiing, but also for other entertainments, I think this figure shows more or less accurately the number of visits,” Diana Pavlovich believes.
How did the Minsk Ski Track come about?
The president of Belarus can be seen skiing quite often. And not only in his homeland. Aleksandr Lukashenko went skiing with Vladimir Putin in Sochi in February 2021 and hit the slopes together with Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Amirsoy ski resort near Tashkent in February of last year.
The Minsk Ski Track sports festival debuted in 1986. Back then about 12,000 people showed up on the ski track. The rules changed over time. But the sports enthusiasm grew stronger.
Officials, MPs, journalists and, of course, Aleksandr Lukashenko take part in the Minsk Ski Track. The president's team has won the competition more than once. In 2021, Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the event after a knee injury, so he had to shoot in the standing position, which is more difficult than shooting prone. In 2023, he came to the competition notwithstanding difficult weather conditions.
In February 2023, when asked by journalists to share impressions from the skiing, the president said: “There is no better competition in Belarus than our amateur traditional Minsk Ski Track. To get the feel of the event, you need to try skiing here. Especially in such tough weather. Then you will understand what it is. When the snow is wet, it is really difficult to ski. You push your skis but they do not glide. Moreover, you need to shoot in these conditions.”
The head of state remarked that fresh snow makes it hard to ski. “Yesterday I came here to have a look at the track, to try my hand in shooting. It was snowing really hard. It was impossible to do anything. Today the weather is okay. So you won’t know until you try,” he said.
The president’s participation in the Minsk Ski Track has made the event very popular. This is an example for many.
“You go skiing, take your child with you. Let your children learn,” the president said.
Where in Belarus are skis manufactured?
The only enterprise producing skis in Belarus is located in the village of Telekhany, Ivatsevichi District. In 2018, the president was shown samples of domestically-made skis. The manufacturer got criticized a lot then as the domestic gear was still much behind foreign one in quality.
Following the president’s instructions, the enterprise underwent a large-scale modernization in 2019. It launched the production of plastic skis. More than 15,000 pairs of skis were produced last year. The enterprise holds up to 80% of the Belarusian market. It also exports its products to Russia. Ski production is on the president’s watch list.
“It is also necessary to further work on the matter and to take it up a notch. We are a relatively northern country. We need our children to spend more time outdoors as we used to do after school. The main outdoor activity is skiing now. We need to encourage them to take up skiing from school years in order to make them healthy people. They need to stay active, not sit glued to their phones,” the president said addressing Chairman of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate Yuri Nazarov.
Just a little more than two weeks is left till the end of the calendar winter. But we know that it does not mean that spring will come on 1 March. We still have time to enjoy skiing.
“I have been skiing since childhood. I love skiing. Today I ski also to set an example to others,” the president said during the Minsk Ski Track in February 2019.
“There is nothing better for your body than skiing. It’s beautiful. It’s healthy It is the best workout for every part of the body. Every muscle is involved in skiing. Skiing is a great thing,” the president said.
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