Ski and sail: Kamchatka vs. Norway
Extreme sports enthusiasts are always looking for different ways to diversify their vacation. So there are freeriders who get bored of riding on the tracks, which is why they go beyond them. They start looking for interesting spots for skiing, perhaps they learn what a ski tour is and explore the mountain peaks on their own. Kamchatka, on the other hand, can offer a unique freeride option, which is not found anywhere else in Russia — a ski tour with accommodation on a yacht or a sail-motor catamaran.
«Ski and sail» includes adventure tourism that combines skiing or snowboarding with sailing. This is a unique experience that allows participants to feel like explorers and enjoy both snowy mountain landscapes and scenic coastal views. The origins of this concept came from adventurers who began to realize the untapped potential of sailing to gain access to remote and untouched ski slopes.
This type of activity is popular in regions where there is a combination of mountainous terrain and nearby bodies of water, such as fjords and bays. Kamchatka is no exception — the eastern coast of the peninsula is washed by the Pacific Ocean, which creates excellent climatic conditions for spring freeride. Also in the spring there is an opportunity for ships to enter the waters of the Avacha Bay. These facts served as a combination of two activities — freeride and sailing.
Every spring Kamchatka freeride community goes to the shores of Russkaya Bay. Here we moor a sailing catamaran and live for a whole week without the Internet and cellular communications. The guides have a satellite phone with them, with the help of which they contact the managers in the city and find out the latest information on the weather, because it affects the course of the tour program. Under ideal weather conditions, the group will go on a ski tour every day — we want to show you the maximum. Also in Kamchatka there is a unique opportunity to diversify the trip — sea kayaking in the waters of the bay.
The boat berths in remote or hard-to-reach places, giving riders access to pristine slopes devoid of the large crowds found in conventional ski resorts. Skiers and snowboarders make their way along scenic routes and make descents right to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, enjoying the feeling of untouched snow.
A typical day from the freeride and sailing program in Kamchatka
You wake up in the cabin of a sailing catamaran. Wash your face and brush your teeth in one of the two latrines (the latrine on the ship). Our chef has already prepared breakfast and set the table in a cozy wardroom. After breakfast, you pick up your clothes from the drying room and get ready to leave. Do not forget to take an avalanche safety kit with you — a beeper, a probe and a shovel (the price of the tour includes the rental of avalanche equipment).
Depending on the forecast, the guide chooses the skiing location. The group starts the ski-tour ascent to the summit. The height of the hills surrounding Russkaya Bay is 500-800 meters. The group does 1-4 lifts per day, the number depends on the level of training of the participants. The peaks offer incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, to the shore of which you will make descents.
After a day of skiing, participants return to the sailboat, where they are met with warm hospitality, delicious Kamchatka cuisine and a cozy atmosphere. The evening provides an opportunity to relax on deck, watch stunning sunsets and share your impressions of the day. The rhythmic movement of the boat gently swaying on the water enhances the overall sense of calm, creating the perfect setting for relaxing after an energetic day of ski touring.
On one of the days of the trip, we will go to Cape Kekurny, where there is a haulout of sea lions. These wonderful marine mammals, often referred to as elephant seals, hold a special place in the natural world. Unlike other species, they have unique characteristics that distinguish them from others. One of the most striking features of sea lions is their impressive size. Adults can reach a length of 2.4 to 3.5 meters, with a weight that can reach 1000 kilograms.
Kamchatka vs. Norway
Another place on Earth where a ski tour with sailing is also possible is Norway. It was here that this trend was born in the 90s. With deep cultural significance, skiing has become an integral part of Norway’s identity over time. They have evolved from a means of survival to a hobby. Sailing ships, in turn, remained indispensable for both transportation and trade due to the country’s vast coastline and many fjords. With the development of marine technology, sailboats have become more sophisticated and suitable for recreation, which has led to the emergence of a new type of adventure — freeriding and sailing. It is rather difficult to determine from the photographs where Norway is and where Kamchatka is.
In Norway, this type of leisure is called «Ski and sail», which literally translates as «Ski and sail». The most popular location for this activity in Norway is the Lyngen Alps, a truly stunning mountain range in the northeast of the country. This region stretches over 90 kilometers along the Lyngen fjord.
Kamchatka and Northern Norway are unique in their own way. And we wish every freerider to visit both locations. But still, we hope that Kamchatka will be the first in line, if only because of greater accessibility.
Join our Sailing and Wild Kamchatka programs to try freeriding and sailing! And the program «Wild Kamchatka», in addition to the ski tour and sailing, includes heli-skiing.
