{"id":2632,"date":"2024-12-30T17:13:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T17:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/?p=2632"},"modified":"2024-12-30T17:13:38","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T17:13:38","slug":"praveen-sood-elected-president-of-national-ski-mountaineering-association-a-new-era-for-winter-sports-in-himachal-pradesh-and-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=2632","title":{"rendered":"Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><h1>Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India.<\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2633\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0051-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Shimla:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In a landmark achievement that has stirred immense pride within the Manali community and across India&#8217;s winter sports landscape, Praveen Sood, fondly known as &#8220;Pintu,&#8221; has been elected as the President of the National Ski Mountaineering Association, also known as SkiMo India Federation. This momentous development is expected to reshape the future of winter sports in India, with a particular focus on the snow-covered regions of Himachal Pradesh and the greater Indian Himalayas.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2634\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0088-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Ski Mountaineering: The Thrilling Olympic Sport on the Rise<\/h2>\n<p>Ski mountaineering, or SkiMo, is an exhilarating sport that combines alpine skiing with mountaineering techniques, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience. As the newest Olympic sport and governed internationally by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), SkiMo is swiftly growing in popularity worldwide. Unlike traditional winter sports, SkiMo requires minimal infrastructure, making it an ideal activity for the rugged, snow-covered landscapes of India\u2019s Himalayan regions. This presents vast potential for both competitive sports and high-end adventure tourism, particularly in remote areas that have largely remained unexplored in terms of winter sports.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2635\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0087-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Praveen Sood, who has long championed the sport, is now poised to lead this movement with a clear vision. He has stated, \u201cWith the support of state associations and governments, SkiMo will be introduced to the most remote and snowbound areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and the northeastern states. This will not only bring about sporting excellence but also drive tourism and economic development in these areas.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>A Vision for Expanding SkiMo in Himachal Pradesh and Beyond.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2636\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0052-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Under Praveen&#8217;s dynamic leadership, the sport is set to make significant strides across India&#8217;s Himalayan states. SkiMo is already gaining traction, with events such as India\u2019s first SkiMo Open National competition held in April 2024 at Jalori Pass, Himachal Pradesh. This event highlighted the potential of the region for winter sports, providing a massive boost to local tourism and businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Praveen plans to expand SkiMo events into several untapped destinations with vast potential, including Lahaul Valley, Baralacha, Chandra Valley, Parvati Valley, and the Prashar region in Mandi. These locations offer pristine slopes, challenging terrains, and the type of adventure that is sought after by ski enthusiasts worldwide.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2637\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0089-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0089-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0089-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0089.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Praveen noted, &#8220;The areas we are targeting, including Upper Mandi, Lahaul, Kinnaur, and Chamba, are ideal for SkiMo and ski touring \u2013 the world\u2019s largest winter tourism activity. These regions have immense potential to not only foster world-class sports but also attract tourists from around the globe, boosting the local economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>A Legacy of Pioneering Ski Exploration in India<\/h4>\n<p>Praveen Sood\u2019s appointment as President is particularly notable given his deep-rooted passion for ski exploration in India. A former national ski athlete and medalist, he has represented India internationally and is renowned for his expertise in avalanche safety and rescue. Over the years, he has led the charge in pioneering ski exploration across the Indian Himalayas, often venturing into areas that were previously uncharted in terms of winter sports.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2638\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0086-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Among his trailblazing feats, Praveen was the first to ski on untouched slopes in regions like Lahaul Valley, Baralacha, Chandra Valley, Parvati Valley, and Mandi\u2019s Prashar. His passion also led him to explore the snow-covered terrains of Arunachal Pradesh, where he became the first person to ski near the Indo-Tibet border in Tawang.<\/p>\n<p>Praveen&#8217;s efforts to establish SkiMo as a sport in India are seen as a game-changer, not just for winter sports enthusiasts but also for the tourism sector. &#8220;We will promote new areas and destinations to ensure the sport gets the attention it deserves, and tourism in these regions receives a significant boost,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2639\" src=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.in\/ENews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG-20241230-WA0050-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<h5>A Step Forward: Advocacy for Local Support and National Events<\/h5>\n<p>As part of his plan to bring SkiMo into the mainstream, Praveen has been actively working with local stakeholders, including the government and administrators, to garner support for the sport. He has presented detailed proposals to local Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and regional authorities, emphasizing the vast benefits of SkiMo in driving both sports development and tourism growth.<\/p>\n<p>Praveen\u2019s strategic push aims to secure government backing for organizing national-level SkiMo events in Himachal Pradesh and beyond, bringing India into the global spotlight for winter sports.<\/p>\n<h6>A Proud Moment for Manali and the Nation<\/h6>\n<p>Praveen\u2019s election as President of the National Ski Mountaineering Association is a historic moment not just for Manali, but for all of India. It reflects the growing recognition of the country\u2019s untapped potential in winter sports, with SkiMo at the forefront of this revolution.<\/p>\n<p>As events such as the Khelo India Winter Games and national championships continue to fuel the sport\u2019s popularity, Praveen\u2019s leadership is expected to propel India into the international arena, attracting global athletes, tourists, and adventurers to explore the beautiful but remote winter landscapes of the Indian Himalayas.<\/p>\n<p>This milestone achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Praveen Sood and the entire local community, whose support will be crucial in realizing the true potential of SkiMo in India. With Praveen at the helm, the future of winter sports in India looks brighter than ever before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India. Shimla: &nbsp; In a landmark [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" data-url=https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=2632><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,4,3,22],"tags":[962],"class_list":["post-2632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-himachal-news","category-india-news","category-latest-news","category-sports","tag-praveen-sood-elected-president-of-national-ski-mountaineering-association-a-new-era-for-winter-sports-in-himachal-pradesh-and-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.9.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India.\u00a0 - The Eagle News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=2632\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India.\u00a0 - The Eagle News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Praveen Sood Elected President of National Ski Mountaineering Association: A New Era for Winter Sports in Himachal Pradesh and India. 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