The extreme winter sport in Russia

Visiting Russia in winter: The extreme winter sport

Visiting Russia in winter is an opportunity that will allow you to know new things. What to do during the winter in Russia here we will tell you. What to visit in Russia during winter, if you are active in sports this article is for you.

If you expect something different from your trip to Russia and not just guided tours in Russia, historical monuments or city walks, then that article is for you.

There is a lot of winter sports. However, skiing, snowboarding and ice skating can hardly surprise anyone. But few people know that there are also extraordinary entertainment such as ice, snowkite and ice diving. If with these names it is still possible to imagine how athletes should compete, a name for winter sports such as “skijoring” leaves a lot of speculation without starting.

What to do during winter in Russia

Normally the winter amusements of the Russians are limited with skis, skates and sleds. Although lately there are new types of extreme winter sport. Maybe it was time to take a risk and try to vary the traditional winter leisure.

Heliski and snowcross are two of the strongest extreme innovations in Russia. Only the most risky dare to jump from a helicopter to the top of a mountain and get down from the virgin snow, away from the ski slopes. To the mountain they climb in a group obligatorily accompanied by a guide who knows well the slopes of the area.

The Russian heliski centers are now on the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the Caucasus (Mount Elbrus) and in Krásnaya Poliana. The usual price for a day of heliski in Krásnaya Poliana is approximately 8000 rubles. The price includes the 4 climbs in a helicopter, the avalanche probe rental and the accompanying guide services. The price of a day drops significantly if you buy a multi-day program. The heliski season lasts 4 months from the middle of December to the middle of April.

What to visit in Russia during winter – other options

Those who do not like height, but love speed, are offered to try snowcross racing and snowmobiling. It can be learned in any model. The jumps often reach 9 meters high and up to 40 meters long! This sport is good because after a hard race the snowmobiles can be used for quieter purposes. For example, go on a safari in Karelia. Although it is also very exciting this type of leisure is for the whole family.

Snowkite is the perfect sport for young people. It is a type of kitesurfing (sliding on a board and with a sail) but in the snow. Lately it becomes more and more popular. Because to receive your dose of adrenaline you don’t need the mountain or rock. An open territory is enough. The equipment used in this sport resembles the same water sport team. You learn very fast. A couple of classes and you can enjoy it now.

There are several favorite places of kiters in Russia. First of all, it is Lake Pleshchéyevo, where the wind always blows in diverse directions and the amount of snow gives an opportunity to have an unforgettable feeling for new athletes and professionals. Second, it is Lake Baikal. Snowkite fans prefer the eastern shore of the lake, the Barguzinski gulf and the Chivyrcuiski gulf where magnificent northwest winds blow. Experienced athletes can go on a kite safari across Lake Baikal. The trip will last about a week. The shores of the Gulf of Finland is the third popular snowkite spot. Even here international competitions take place.

The sport with crampons

If for you the essence of sport is to overcome obstacles you have to try dry-toolingl. It is a winter variety of mountaineering. Athletes conquer the mountain tracks with ice axes in their hands and shoes with crampons. Of course, this sport requires serious training. Before going to the mountain you have to practice regularly for a minimum of a few months.

Now in Russia there are several tracks for dry-toolingl of different difficulty, from the easiest to the most difficult. For those who want a softer effort, winter hiking is useful. Because under the white cover the tourist sites look different. Most of the beautiful routes are in Crimea and in the Caucasus. But there are also several days hiking in Altai, in Ural, in Kamchatka and on the Kola Peninsula. The most pleasant thing is that this type of adventure is available to anyone. You can organize a family trip: spend with the children the easiest parts of the route and then go only adults to the mountains or caves.

Ayskarting

Ayskarting is practically no different from the usual karting races on a special track in small open cars (maps). The only difference is that the race is held in an open kart track, and the track itself is covered with ice.

To control the map on that surface, skills high enough to control the technique are needed. Each turn of the map that brings, deploys or destroys the chipper, to avoid this, a coordinated alternative work of gas and direction is needed. Experienced kartists can make snow-covered spins on a skate. However, it should be borne in mind that icecarting is safer than the classic one, since it is quite difficult to gain high speed on an ice rink, and the consequences of a collision with a chipper, a snowdrift or another participant in the race are much less serious. However, during the races it is necessary to strictly observe the safety precautions: it is essential to wear a helmet, a special protective suit, gloves, as well as strictly follow the instructions and commands of the track workers.

kitesurf

Kite is a special towing device that resembles a parachute or sail. The wind inflates the kite and pulls the board on which the athlete is. In the classic version, the sliding occurs on the surface of the water and, in the case of snowkites, on snow or ice. This is an extreme sport, since in the process of riding a kite you can lift an athlete to a considerable height. That is why it is recommended that you take a theoretical and practical training course with professional instructors before practicing snowkite.

To practice snowkite, you can use the surface of a frozen pond or a flat field. The main thing is to find a platform that combines a smooth surface and sufficient wind energy. Snowmobile enthusiasts near Moscow often use the Big Stroginsky Zaton in Moscow, Lake Pleshcheevo (Pereslavl-Zalessky), the fields near Podolsk (15 kilometers along the Simferopol highway) and Dmitrov (near the Sorochany ski resort), the Kudinovsky quarry in Staraya Kupavna, an airfield in Monin

You can learn to drive a kite in winter at the Surf-Point (Pereslavl-Zalessky) and Riders of the Storm (Dmitrovsky district) clubs.

What to do during the winter in Russia and much more only in GuiaRus. What to visit in Russia during winter, contact us for more information. Visiting Russia in winter accompanied by our professional guide in Spanish will be more than a tour.