Xinjiang's fur skiers find fame in Asian winter games
Youths from villages in Altay Mountains build on traditional skills to excel
Azamat Adalbek is a skilled snowboarder. However, the 16-year-old from Altay prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region knows he still has a long way to go before he becomes a fur skiing pro like his father and uncle, and Azamat had been looking forward to owning a pair of fur skis tailor-made for him by his father.
The teenager's wish was fulfilled when he returned home to Meilifeng village at the foot of the Altay Mountains in January for his school's winter break. Heavy snowfall during the long winter, which often lasts from late October to early April, had created a fairytale-like atmosphere in the village of herdsmen from the Kazak ethnic group.
Azamat's father Adalbek Halengbek welcomed his son with a pat on the back and announced he had a surprise for him. As Azamat followed his father into the living room, his face lit up with pleasure when he spotted a pair of fur skis made of pinewood taking shape.
"The length of the skis has to match the user's height," said the 46-year-old as he put the tails of the skis on the floor and held them up vertically next to Azamat to make the comparison. "See, they are just perfect for Azamat. It's about time my son owned a pair of fur skis of his own and started to learn to master them."
