As the weather turns colder, the arrival of snow is just around the corner. In the village of Lasite in Altay, Xinjiang, the workshop of Silanbek Shahash is filled with red pine and birch wood. The preparation for the traditional fur ski production began back in August, with the glowing, well-prepared skins ready for use. Standing at the entrance are a row of fur skis, each towering over a person, meticulously crafted by hand.
Silanbek, 70 years old, forges these skis with a level of craftsmanship that’s deeply rooted in tradition, attracting media from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Taiwanese host He Zhuorong was seen cradling a pair of skis, alongside Silanbek’s son, Huan Shabek Silanbek, as they introduced this ancient skill to the camera.
The process of creating these skis involves shaping wood into the ski form, bending the front tip over a fire, and soaking the curved portion in hot water for molding. The skis are then drilled, waxed, polished, and fitted with leather straps, requiring around half a month for completion.
“During winter, the snow in the Altay mountains can reach heights of up to two meters, making it difficult for horses to traverse. However, these fur skis are perfect for travel,” Huan Shabek explained. When skiing downhill, the fur adheres to the ski, increasing speed, and when climbing uphill, it reverses to enhance traction and prevent slipping.
This technique represents the wisdom accumulated by Altay’s ancestors over long winters. Looking back thousands of years, early inhabitants of the region equipped themselves with snow poles and bows, gliding across snow-covered mountains on fur skis, while buffalo, wild horses, and elk fled before them.
Pigments rich in iron ore and animal collagen captured this scene on sheltered rocks, with ancient skiing activities preserved as “living fossils” waiting to be discovered about 40 kilometers from Huan Shabek’s home in the Dun Deblak River Valley of Mongolia.
The opening film of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics featured snowflakes that had journeyed across vast landscapes to land at the Bird’s Nest, sourced from the Dun Deblak rock painting depicting ancient ski hunting.
“We emerged from the Dun Deblak cave filled with awe and gratitude for this land,” said Zhao Jingnan, deputy editor of Thailand’s Star Siam Daily. “The rock paintings and snow culture of Altay form an intangible link connecting the ancient and modern, nature and humanity. Here, we witness not only the beginnings of human skiing history but also the vast potential of the snow industry.”
Known as the “City of Snow,” Altay is situated on the Platinum Snow Line at latitude 47 degrees north, boasting snow resources comparable to the European Alps and North America’s Rockies, making it one of China’s premier natural ski destinations.
With snowfall averaging over 1.5 meters in depth during winter and a snow season extending over six months, Altay is famed for its “powder snow,” described by ski enthusiasts as “the snow treasure,” often referred to as “powder snow paradise.” The core ski areas feature high elevation, significant vertical drop, and undulating terrain without fault lines—ideal for top-tier ski resort development.
In 2015, more than 30 ski history researchers and scholars from 18 countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, the U.S., and Austria, co-authored the “Altay Declaration,” recognizing Xinjiang Altay as one of the world’s most critical ancient skiing regions. This declaration not only bolstered Altay’s international status as a skiing birthplace but also drew more snow sports enthusiasts and tourists eager to explore this remarkable area.
