Launched last year with the aim to develop the ski talent of the Kashmir, Gulmarg Snow School (GSS) is all set to train more than 300 skiers this season in Gulmarg.
The GSS was launched last year under the patronage of Delhi Winter Games Association and JK Tourism department in order to train interested students who are unable to get their berths during season in various Government and Semi Government run courses at Gulmarg. Every year during winter months number of students get training in skiing from various institutes in Gulmarg. However, due to low intake capacity of the courses many interested are left behind. To fill the gap and train interested participants GSS was launched last year by four skiing experts of Valley. Ayaz Ahmad, Tariq Ahmad and Shabir under supervision of Mir Mudasir last year started the ambitious project of training the youth of the state in the art of skiing.
“We have been training youngsters since last more than a decade and during the period we have trained thousands in skiing. We were involved with Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM), Tourism department and various other departments in the process. However, through these institute we were not able to do we always intended to do, that is to train maximum number of youth. ISSM and other ski courses have got limited capacity and many interested are left behind,” said Ayaz Ahmad.
“We joined hands last year to form the GSS and for that we got affiliation from Delhi Winter Games Association and recognition from Tourism department. Though being private our courses would be recognized ones and pass outs would be able to compete in various competitions,” he said.
Mir Mudasir who is known skier of the Valley and has represented Country in Winter Olympics said this year GSS intend to train around 300 skiers. “In our inaugural year we trained around 50 students. However, this season we have shifted our focus to local youth and we intend to train around 300 students of Kashmir in skiing this season. We will approach various schools of the valley for the purpose and will put our proposal in front of them,” Mudasir said.
“We will be imparting training in basic, inter-mediate and advance level of courses during this season. For the purpose we will start our season as early as possible depending on snow fall,” he said.
Mudasir said that the State should focus on to train youngsters from early age in skiing in order to develop good players for the national and international level.
“Our State has been bestowed with ski resort like Gulmarg where we can develop large number of quality winter sport players. However, need to is train youngsters from very early age and give them platform to perform and prove their talent. Tourism department has taken many initiatives but private enterprises also need to do their bit,” he said.
“Everything can’t be kept on Government and there is urgent need of private sector involvement in the field. There is large gap in training and nurturing the youth in in the art of skiing. We have started our bit and have kept on focus on training the youth. We hope more such initiatives will come in coming time,” he added.
