Snowy slopes script success stories
Olympics. Since then, hardly any team has left Indian shores without a skier from these villages. During the 1998 Winter Olympics, no skier from the region qualified but luger Shiva Keshavan from Vashisht was holding the tricolour high.
NO RECOGNITION
“Palchan has produced 22 international skiers, but as we step out of Manali, no one knows about our achievements,” said Nanak Chand. Oblivious to that fact, the ‘elders’ continue to bring up the new generation.
Hira Lal of Burua village is one such example. His maternal uncle, Roshan Lal, coached him and the boy went on to represent the country at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Now, Roshan Lal has begun imparting lessons to his children, Himanshu and Aanchal.
Slowly but certainly, the action has shifted from Palchan to Burua village, with 14 skiers competing internationally and the latest stars being Aanchal and Himanshu.
While Aanchal was the country’s lone participant at the 2012 Youth Winter Olympics in Austria, Himanshu competed in the 2014 Sochi Olympics and is in contention for a 2018 Olympics berth.
The success stories have also given locals from Palchan, Solang, Kothi, Ruwar and Kulang an option to look beyond their small land holdings to earn a living. Resources dry up during harsh winters and livelihood is at the mercy of nature, so the next best thing is to turn to skiing.
Nearly 50% of the families in the region earn their living from leisure activity and sport. Kiosks dotting the mountain road rent out ski gear and blades to tourists and provide them with guides, while ski instructors help them learn the rudiments.
While some are happy earning a living on the slopes of Solang, others have moved out. “Nearly 90% of the households in Palchan have seen someone or the other either competing or going as coaches abroad.
It’s an irony, then, that the region continues to be promoted only as a tourist destination by the state and the bigger picture — of making it a premier winter sports academy and competitive international destination — is being missed.