Gulmarg Ski Course

Skiing course

This course was conducted simultaneously at Jawahar Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering and Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg, J.K. from 27^th Dec’10-9^th Jan’11, under Ministry of Tourism.

The following techniques were covered under the course:

1)Basics of ice skating

2) Snow Beating and side stepping

3) Downhill

4)Snow Ploughing and turn

5)Traversing

6)Herring back technique

7)Kick tyrn

8)Uphill swing

Experience:

Jawahar Institute Of Mountaineering And Winter Sports

I am Vidit Agarwal, a student of 3^rd year, B.E. Electrical, Thapar University, and I can proudly call myself an ALPINIST.

One fine day of October, on my way to mess , I came across a notice of The Adventure Club ( T.U.), and became quite eager to know more about the basic skiing course which the notice talked about. Having already successfully completed a basic Adventure course under NIM, it seemed to be a great opportunity to utilize the 15 days of winter vacations, to learn a sport, and experience the chill and thrill which life brings along.

So , I got myself registered with a nominal subsidized fee of just Rs 4600. The adventure club people were very cooperative in making all the happen, as this was a special batch of 29 students of our college, just started on request of our extremely devoted friends, Shobhit and Brighu.

WE definitely made our university proud by getting 20 alpha grades, 6 beta grades and 3 charlie grades at an institution where no more than 30% of the batch can have alpha, at an institution where civilians are treated no less than an army man, at an institution where teaching is their priority and training their air.

They Train To Excel !

Date : 25^th December 2011 to 8^th January 2012

Duration : 14 days

Course : Basic Alpine Skiing

Place : Gulmarg

Training Area : Temple slope, Church slope, Cherry slope

Language of instruction : Hindi and English

Bed tea : 7:00 a.m. sharp
Breakfast : 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Lunch : 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Evening tea : 4:30 p.m. sharp
Dinner : 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Report on the slope at 9:00a.m. without default or face the consequences.

Report at 6:00 p.m. for lecture or face the consequences.

A warm welcome at the Kingsley hotel with hot tea and biscuits followed by admission to the rooms, filling of the forms and finally issuing of the ski kit for the course and then a city tour of gulmarg by our respected instructors marked the starting of our course.

The ski kit included sweat shirt and sweat pants, warm upper and warm lower, a JIM t-shirt, U.V. protection sun glasses, gloves, ski boots, ski and ski poles.

The evening lecture was a brief welcome with an introduction to our institute, trainers and the course.

The rooms were cozy, water was ice cold, air was dry, and there was nothing but snow.

The next morning we wore our ski boots for the first time. Each boot weighed 2 kg minimum and wearing was a difficult task in itself. Then all geared up, we reached the slope, slipping and walking, and then we were introduced to the first technique, Sliding And Gliding. Every day we learned new techniques which are listed as:
 > Herring bone                         > Side step
 > Snow plough                         > Shoosing
 > Snow plough turn                > Stem turn
 > Stem Swing                           > Dynamic stem swing
 > Cristiana                                > Tip and Heel turn
 > Gate attack for Salalam      > Langlouf

There were lectures every alternate day which were as under:
> Introduction to skiing
> Winter Terminology
> Equipment Display
> Basic first aid and winter diseases
> Shelter
> Avalanch
> Avalanch rescue

We were tested in four exams which were:
>Endurance test: An up slope skiing for four kilometers. (Langlouf test)
>Written exam  : Related to practical and theoretical knowledge.
>Salalam test     : A speed and technique combo.
>Technique test : listen to the instructions and change the way of skiing                                 accordingly.

The New Year eve was made memorable by a Ski Movie.
Besides one day we visited the High Altitude Warfare School , a day to be remembered, the dumbstruck view of the army , traing themselves to fight, shoot and survive, on their ski.
Another day we visited Gondola, which was a fine experience.

Snowfall wished us all a Happy New Year and it stopped the night before our departure.

The closing ceremony started with some jokes, them some rescue mission stories by our instructors, and then distribution of JIM&WS batches and two special prizes :
> Best Endurance : Bajwa
> Best Student : Bhupesh

 It was a life time experience and I would go for the intermediate course if time permits me.

The leave taking was marked with the emotional pain to leave behind the ski and not by the bruises here and there.