Such a wide variety of landscapes, as in Russia, is rare in the world, and this feature is an excellent opportunity for the development of ski tourism, for the creation of trails of all kinds within one country. This is not to say that this opportunity is not being used. In Russia now you can count more than 300 equipped ski resorts and centers.

But the bases at the disposal of Russian alpine skiing fans are quite different from each other. The variety depends on the number and length of tracks, their steepness and surface condition, the number and type of lifts, technical equipment and service infrastructure, on which the quality of the tracks themselves directly depends. The infrastructure includes evening lighting, systems of artificial snowmaking, leveling and compaction of snow. The availability of points for equipment repair, medical assistance, food, entertainment increases the overall quality level of the ski center.

But a large number of tracks is not always a sign of a high class. Sometimes a pair of natural, well-snow-covered slopes, not equipped with any lifting mechanisms, cause more positive emotions for the skiers than the hills, indented by many "bald", hummocky or icy slopes. That is why a fairly large number of "semi-wild" slopes are still functioning in Russia, which have a single snowcat as a technique or are not equipped at all. These can be bases of an almost flat nature, popular with local residents (in the European part of the country) or located in the steep mountains of the Urals or Altai, for experienced extreme skiers, lovers of long journeys for the thrill. A general description of ski resorts of various quality levels is given in table 1.

Table 1
Classification of Russian ski resorts by quality and price criteria

Evaluation of the price category of a particular base depends on the completeness of the base with equipment and personnel, which is reflected in the final prices for the use of lifts. Prices, in turn, depend on the type of lift (chairlifts, drag lifts, etc.), as well as the steepness and length of the descent. But often prices are simply set at the level of local market averages, regardless of whether the base corresponds to the chosen price level. The organizers are guided by the occupancy rate of the slopes, and therefore skiing on weekdays is usually cheaper than on weekends and holidays. More "advanced" bases offer various options for combining payment, depending on the family composition and the duration of the ride.

As for service options, middle-level ski resorts always offer basic equipment rental, instructor services, a first-aid post, an insulated locker room, parking, and food outlets. Bases of a higher class offer almost exactly the same range of services, only the main thing - responsibility - is added to their declaration: that is, the guards really guard the cars in the parking lot, the staff on the track advises the skiers and helps in using the lifts, and also controls their uninterrupted operation. If the base is located far from settlements, options for direct accommodation on its territory in small hotels or chalets are offered.

The most frequent negative feedback on the work of Russian ski resorts is the discrepancy between the prices of the service provided. Almost all economy-class ski resorts, as well as many mid-level centers, are often characterized by an overestimation of their real capabilities - the quality of the infrastructure, the number of existing slopes and lifts do not correspond to the declared ones, the ski track may be shorter and worse in quality, equipment breaks down, interruptions may occur. electricity, which makes it difficult to read trips on ski pass cards and much more. At the same time, the staff is most often not prepared to solve the problems that have arisen.

But it seems that the patience of Russian vacationers is limitless. Despite the unsatisfactory conditions, most ski resorts (especially on weekends) are packed to overflowing with skiers, which creates meter-long queues for the lifts and contributes to the replenishment of the number of disgruntled visitors. Not everyone, having confidently mastered skiing or snowboarding, can go “freeride” the expanses of the Altai mountains or go for a drive abroad, to French and Swiss resorts. However, the number of ski centers is gradually continuing to grow, and those slopes, the potential of which is underutilized, will be expanded or they are planned to be reconstructed.

So, by the 2012 season, the first stage of reconstruction of the Orekhov Kamen base, which is located near the city of Bratsk, in the Irkutsk region, should be completed: it is planned to put into operation a cable car there. The second stage of the reconstruction involves the construction of three ski slopes, a biathlon track, an ice rink, starting houses and an overpass.

Also the famous ski center "Sobolinaya Mountain" near Baikalsk (Irkutsk region) is undergoing reconstruction. Now the maximum attendance of the center is 3 thousand people a day, but it is reached only on some weekends of the winter season. The organizers see the reason for the weak filling in the lack of infrastructure. Therefore, it is planned to build new extended ski slopes, an observation deck, picnic areas, a children's center, a cottage village, a hotel complex (in total, for 160 places). In 2012, it is planned to create the third stage of the artificial snowmaking system, for which from 3 to 6 snow cannons will be purchased, as well as the construction of an entertainment center will begin. It is assumed that from 2017, during the winter seasons, more than 1.3 billion rubles will be invested in the renovated resort, in the construction of which. in two stages, 5 thousand tourists will come daily.

The Olympic Park base in Ufa is also being set up. In 2013 Ufa will host the International Winter Games. In particular, the Olympic Park will host alpine skiing competitions, in particular, alpine slalom and cross-country skiing on a special track. The construction of a new building for a children's and youth sports school for alpine skiing with an area of ​​about 3 thousand square meters has already begun. One of the main goals of the reconstruction is to equip new ski slopes and expand the existing ones. In addition, a new ski slope will appear in the area of ​​an unfinished 120-meter springboard.

Until 2016, a program for the development of the Sheregesh complex (Kemerovo region) has been developed. As part of this program, new lifts will be built, hotels and catering points will be opened. In addition, the construction of new entertainment facilities is planned on the territory of the ski resort.

The tourist zone "Turquoise Katun", located in Altai, is being improved. The project provides for the construction of a wide-ranging entertainment complex, which includes the construction of a ski complex with lifts, ski and toboggan slopes, viewing platforms and cafes, as well as a ski school. The total cost of the Turquoise Katun project is over 15 billion rubles. It was planned that the center will receive the first tourists by 2012, and in the future, the tourist complex will be able to visit up to 95 thousand people.

As for new construction, the most ambitious projects are planned in the regions of the Caucasus. The press is widely discussing grandiose plans for the construction of a number of ski resorts of international class in the southern republics of Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Dagestan, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Chechnya. All these new centers will be included in the tourism cluster, the development of which is managed by a specially created company OJSC "Resorts of the North Caucasus" (KSK). The cost of creating the first five resorts is estimated at 451.44 billion rubles. (about 15 billion dollars), of which 60 billion rubles. allocates the budget of the Russian Federation for the creation of infrastructure and engineering networks. The construction will be carried out by the Rizzani de Eccher holding from Italy.

True, the initiators of the construction have faced opposition from Russian ecologists, who call on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to remind the Russian authorities that the territories chosen for the construction of ski resorts belong to the category of specially protected natural areas. In particular, activists argue that if Russia does not abandon plans to build a ski resort on the Lagonaki plateau, then in 2013 the World Heritage Committee will send a special commission to Russia for verification. In turn, representatives of the "Resorts of the North Caucasus" declare that construction is proceeding with the approval of all authorized organizations.

table 2
List of under construction and projected ski complexes and resorts in Russia, by region




A source. Monitoring by ABARUS Market Research.

To date, KSK has signed agreements with investors totaling more than $ 18 billion: among major investors, in particular, the French bank Caisse des Depots et Consignations and Nafta Moskva, but there is a queue of investors wishing to participate in this large-scale project continues to grow. Thus, in June 2012, the Chinese conglomerates China Oceanwide Holdings Group and Dalian Wanda Group confirmed their plans to invest about $ 3 billion in the development of North Caucasian resorts.
There are also less pompous projects in Russia. The construction of new ski resorts is planned in various parts of the country. Information about the most famous projects is given in table 2.