What can be better than mountains? Vladimir Vysotsky, the Soviet-era cult singer, famously claimed in a song once that better is only the mountain you have not yet conquered. I would go even further and say that the best is the mountain you have yet to ski or snowboard down.
Sliding down mountains is an extreme sport. On the one hand, you will enjoy the rugged beauty of the scenery – the snow-covered slopes, the magnificent fir trees that you zoom past. But you have to remain in control: one careless moment and you may fall and bruise yourself … or worse. Only the most adventurous and daring of us consider snowboarding and mountain skiing as pleasures of the highest caliber.
Skiing is a much more ancient activity than snowboarding. But an interest in snowboarding has been growing dramatically during the last decade in Ukraine. It’s an alternative to good old skis and a novelty which is something that has always attracted young people. But the backbone of both skiing and snowboarding is the same: speed, beauty, exploration, and skill – a perfect mix for an active vacation.
Kyiv itself, although it boasts a couple of ski slopes, is only interesting for those who want to learn or stay in shape. Still, the capital can offer a lot for beginners in terms of clothes, equipment, infrastructure, training and fine hills.
Pick your board
There are a several types of snowboards, which you can choose depending on your skills and interests. The standard length of the board is 140–165 centimeters. The shorter ones need less effort for maneuvering; longer ones improve stability of movement at higher speeds. The width of the board should be no less than the width of the foot – the most common is 25 centimeters. Flexibility affects control: the less flexible the board is, the more aggressive you have to be on the slope. Rigidness gives you more chances to pump adrenaline into your blood, because of the more extreme and, consequently, more dangerous ride. Skis are also divided into categories: alpine, twin tip, cross country, back country, and so on. Again, your choice depends on the kind of riding and sliding you plan to do.
Buying/renting equipment
Whether you are a skier or a snowboarder, you have to buy special clothes. They need to be warm, absorb wetness and dry quickly. You will have close contact with the snow, especially in the beginning, so you have to make sure you’re comfortable. Luckily, clothes for skiing and snowboarding are available in almost every sports store in Kyiv. Here are a few sources for buying special pants, coats, masks, etc.:
– http://www.extremstyle.ua/ shop offers high quality equipment as well as special sets for beginners starting from Hr 2,200: http://www.extremstyle.ua/share/index.php?SID=12#anchor_14544. You can take a closer look at everything featured on this website and poke around in a store at 63 Hlubochytska, 251-7111;
– http://www.rider.ua/ online shop offers a wide range of clothes and big discounts: you get the same quality for a smaller price. The site is easy to navigate and a free delivery is offered, but I would recommend visiting the actual shop at 9 Frolovska, 254 3883;
– http://www.sportmaster.ua/ is a popular Ukrainian chain of sports stores. You can find one in almost every part of Kyiv. Here are some of their addresses: 28 Lesi Ukrainki Boulevard; 14A Bazhana Avenue; 3 Peremohy Square, Ukraina shopping mall, 2nd floor. In the case of Sportmaster, it might be more efficient to visit an actual store rather than browse the website; and
– http://www.riskomania.com.ua/ offer a variety of snowboards and accessories.
Also, you can rent the required equipment in the city shops for Hr 70-80 per day and right next to skiing slopes – from Hr 90. You can rent it at the site http://www.snowboard.kiev.ua
Skiing in Kyiv
Protasiv Yar, one of the places where you can ski and snowboard in Kyiv, is located in the center, not far from Respublikansky Stadion metro station. It will take you five minutes to get there from the metro station by trolleybus No. 40 or marshrutkas No. 495 and 450.
Driving there is easy too – just look up the official address, 23A Protasiv Yar. The main advantage of this skiing slope is the central location. The hill is not too extreme and it often gets crowded. However, skiing instructors are available on site and night skiing is also an option. You can check for more information at http://www.gora.com.ua.
When you’re ready for more advanced skiing or snowboarding, head right to the Kyiv suburb of Vyshghorod. This spot offers more space and challenges. This skiing complex opened only in the 2008- 2009 season and is still developing rapidly. You can find the basic information and the map here: http://vishgora.com.ua.
The real mountains
Kyiv’s slopes are fine to surf on weekends, but to enjoy the real mountains you would have to take a few days off and travel a little further. Ukrainians are lucky to have Carpathian ski resorts at their disposal: Bukovel, Slavske, Drahobrat, Pylypets and Podobovets among others.
-The highest, coldest, most dangerous and thus the most interesting is the Dragobrat mountain. It offers breathtaking slopes and isolation from civilization in case of a bad weather: the nearest settlement is 18 kilometers away so that you would better book a room before arrival;
-Bukovel is the best adapted for tourists and the most expensive of the lot. But the money buys you high quality service, from a transfer to the hotel to lovely food and high quality mountain slopes. Look for detailed information at http://bukovel.com;
-Slavske is a Mecca for skiers who do not care about luxury and are, instead, obsessed with interesting slopes and easy access. It offers cheaper services and a deeper insight into western Ukrainian culture. If you choose Trostyan or any other mountain in Slavske, just a night train ride away from Kyiv, stay with the locals and enjoy the food. More information can be found on http://www.karpaty-slav.com/;
-Pylypets and Podobovets are considered to be more interesting for snowboarding. They are located close to each other making it easy for you to move from one to another to see which one you like best. www.skier.com.ua will give you loads of information about these mountain slopes.
An important note: be sure to check the weather forecast before departing – not all ski resorts offer snow cannons that can cover all the tracks with a thick coat of snow, in case there is not enough natural snow.
There is also a general website to check out for information on Carpathians: http://www.skiukraine.info/info.shtml
