Vital piste of the plan

The lingering excitement of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin got a boost, as attention shifted to Beidahu and the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup on Sunday and Monday.

Beijing Winter Olympics champion Xu Mengtao celebrated her return to the Jilin province ski resort by clinching the World Cup title.

"I participated in a competition here eight years ago and won. It makes me incredibly happy to win again," she said, securing victory with an almost perfect jump.

About 400 kilometers away at Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang province, the snow events of the 9th Asian Winter Games wrapped up just two weeks ago, marking a significant milestone for winter sports in Asia. The Chinese sports delegation achieved a record-breaking haul of 32 gold, 27 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

Both Yabuli and Beidahu symbolize China's commitment to developing professional skiing venues. The two FIS A-level events — the Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup and the Freestyle Skiing Moguls World Cup — attracted 200 competitors from countries including China, Germany, Sweden, the United States and Canada.

The competitions featured numerous Olympic champions and world-renowned athletes, delivering an exhilarating experience for spectators.

Athletes such as Qi Guangpu and Xu seamlessly transitioned from the Asian Winter Games to the competitions at Beidahu, demonstrating the strong connection between these major events.

Competitors have praised the pristine natural snow and well-manicured slopes. Mikael Kingsbury, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics champion, reminisced about his early experiences at Beidahu. "It's changed a lot. I came here in 2010, almost 15 years ago. It was much smaller at that time. It was nice, because we had a bit of sun and less wind, which impressed me a lot."

Finnish skier Severi Vierela, the men's dual moguls champion at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Beidahu, added, "It's like pure snow, not slushy or anything, so it's good for athletes to get good scores. The snow condition is great, and the weather is similar to Finland. It feels awesome to win my first World Cup title here."

The 2024-25 season at Beidahu has set new records, with an unprecedented lineup of events, including three international competitions, three continental events, eight national competitions, and one provincial event.

"This significant growth enhances the appeal of Beidahu Ski Resort," said Jia Ning, deputy director of the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau.

On the third day of the Chinese New Year, Beidahu hosted the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup for the first time. The convergence of high-level sporting events with the festive holiday not only delighted winter sports fans, but also bolstered the local economy. The resort reported a significant increase in visitor numbers and revenue during the event, with a 59.2 percent rise in visitors and a 51 percent increase in revenue.

"We are super excited that, as a global Snowboard Cross World Cup tour, we will also be stopping in this part of Asia. It's also a significant step for Snowboard Cross as a sport," said Uwe Beier, race director of FIS Cross and Snowboard Alpine.