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Shimla: The three-day Junior National Skiing Championship started on Friday in Solang Nala in Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The area is receiving heavy snowfall for the last one week and this has provided excellent conditions to hold events like these in the state. The Senior Skiing Championship was organised in 1999 and after six years this junior competition is being organised. Organisation of such events will give a boost to the state's tourism.

"Events like these would certainly give a boost to the state's tourism industry. The ice games would be promoted," said Ram Lal Thakur, Sports Minister, Himachal Pradesh. The special feature of Solang Valley is the variety of ski slopes available from mid-December to June. There are eight private ski clubs and about 180 skiers who are conducting commercial skiing for tourists at Solang Nala and Rohtang Pass. This has also helped them to generate self-employment and income besides promoting winter tourism in the State. The organisers believe that the continuous snowfall will further help the participants in the skiing.

"If the snowfall continues then also ourparticipants would slide down the slopes. People from ten states have come here to participate in the event,"said Rajeev Sharma, organiser of the event. "It is for the first time that I am participating in a national championship. We are enjoying here. We don't have any problems, every possible arrangement has been made for us,"said Jain Marga, a participant.

The inflow of large number of tourists in winter months during recent years has certainly established Himachal as an all-season tourist destination in the country. Himachal Pradesh government in its endeavour to promote winter tourism is encouraging winter sports like skiing, ice-skating and heliskiing besides giving boost to events like All India Skiing Championship and National Winter Games championship at Manali.
- Feb 11, 2005

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