Ski Season in Mongolia begins this weekend

Thu, 2009-11-26 10:37

By Dan and Unuruu

sky_resort_mongolia_ulan_bator_night_ski

This weekend, a new major ski resort will start operating, it is located on the slopes of the sacred Mountain Bogd Khan Uul, overlooking the capitol city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
The new "Sky-Resort" has several runs served by two chairlifts, the lower west one for beginners and the eastern one for ski racing and training,  it ascends to the height of 1570m.

The ski center includes a coffee shop, a restaurant and renting facilities, including  skiwear, skis, boards and boots. A 30% discount is offered until 25 December 2009. The site is open from 8:30 and serves full light night skiing until 22:00.

Ski school trainers will be present to teach the basics of skiing to visitors, on a individual or group basis.

The snow

sky_resort_ski_mongolia_ulan_bator_snow

The temperatures in Ulan Bator are well below freezing throughout the winter. It does snow from time to time, but not enough to ensure snowy slopes. An Italian company Techno-Alpine has installed snow-making equipment. The snow is made and covers the slopes with the aid of  15 lances (snow guns) that spray snow along the ski slopes. They are operated by two fully automated pumping stations.

sky_resort_ski_mongolia_ulan_bator__chair_lift

 

In order to minimize delivery times, the lances, pump and compressor station units were transported overland from South Tyrol in Italy to Ulaanbaatar via Russia. The remainder of the equipment was transported via China by sea and then transported overland to Mongolia. The final testing of the equipment was completed a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

The slopes

sky_resort_ski_ulan_bator_mongolia

Compared to international ski slopes, the Sky-Resort slopes are easy to intermediate. The slope colors on the map below do not indicate the difficulty, they should all be green and blue according to common ski slope color codes. None of the slopes can be considered black diamond coded (difficult), although the most challenging slope is the Khurkhereet 1020m, which is named after the name of the near by valley.

To try out your ski skills use the Khurakh 110 meter slope. Continue on the Artsat 210m, and Nukht 400m slopes. When you feel comfortable with your ski skills take the lower western chair lift and ski down the Tenger 800m, and Chuluut 850m.

Experienced skiers will enjoy going up the eastern higher chair lift and go down the Zalaat 1050m, and Zaisan 1070m slopes. The most challenging slope is the fast Khurkhereet 1020m slope. Have fun.

Cost

For lift pass and a pair of skis (opening discount until 25 December).
Week-day:  half day  12,200 Togrog,  full day  16,000 Togrog.
Week-end:  half day  17,300 Togrog,  full day  22,400 Togrog.

Sky Resort ski slopes map.

map_sky_resort_ski_ulaanbaatar_mongoliaclick on map for full size.

Click here for this map in PDF format for downloading and printing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: ToMongolia/ski ToMongolia@Gmail.com

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Archived Comments
ganbaakhaltar
2009-11-27 01:48:42
Good job u guys They want this kinda place long long time!!!! Enjoy your SKY resort
guest
2009-11-28 18:49:02
yeah.......... how much is lift ticket? I am for sure going there.
csnarnia
2009-11-28 19:48:09
This looks way better than I expected...Can't wait to get back to UB to try this out....Good question on how much for the lift and ski rentals, boots...etc...
csnarnia
2009-11-28 19:49:38
Are all the slopes lit for night skiing???
St Sigrid
2009-11-29 06:37:18
For sure I want to go there... I have a question concerning the colours used for the slopes: are they following the standardisations to tell about the difficulty of the slopes? If yes, are there any black / black+ slopes open or planned? Furthermore (due to the temperatures in MN): are the chair lifts' seats heated, and who is the producer? As far as I see on the picture the chairs are open (no bubble-lift).... Otherwise I believe it to become quite freezy, and uncomfortable for the skiier (who needs to keep the body / bones warm)...
ToMongolia
2009-11-29 11:06:07
Thanks for your questions. The article is updated from time to time to reflect answers to questions. Cost: from 12,000 Togrog to 23,000, going up after 25 December 2009. Night: full light on the slopes at night. Color: the colors do not reflect difficulty, slopes are easy to intermediate. Lifts: are not heated, and no bubble lift. the ride is short. Dan
RobinT
2009-12-09 02:46:08
I went on November 28. Early is best...as usual...less people. Slopes were well groomed. Same snow-blowers as used at Olympic site, Whistler, BC. The Khurkhereet run... most difficult.... was not open, nor the one further east. But the one next, west of it, was. I would agree the lower runs are easy and the eastern runs are all lower-intermediate. Which is great to get Mongolians in to skiing. Eventually, as wealth increases and skiers progress a larger more advanced ski resort in Mongolia, will be in demand. I spent about 40,000 tugriks to get suit, boots, skis and poles and lift ticket from 9:00am to 1:00pm at 30% off.. I brought my own gloves, goggles, tuk and scarf..... all needed as it was quite cold. I also had long johns, a track bottom under rented suit and three upper layers under rented jacket which was just right. Only parts getting cold even on ski lift were hands and face..... so hand warmers would be good or taking breaks in restaurant, which I did not do. I personally found the lifts a little slow, but overall it was a fun morning. The organizers need to get the outdoor ticket booths on the NORTH side covered as lining up at -21 and slight wind chill is miserable.....even for the ticket booth attendants. Oh, and do not forget your ID as I did...........along with many other people...... which you must leave when renting equipment. This can be remedied by management getting equipment renters to remind us silly folk, when returning equipment, to not forget picking up our ID's. This will avoid the pile of ID's I saw in the safe after only 3 days of business, when I went back the next day to get mine. Still I will be going back on this slope when I return to Mongolia.I went on November 28. Early is best...as usual...less people. Slopes were well groomed. Same snow-blowers as used at Olympic site, Whistler, BC. The Khurkhereet run... most difficult.... was not open, nor the one further east. But the one next, west of it, was. I would agree the lower runs are easy and the eastern runs are all lower-intermediate. Which is great to get Mongolians in to skiing. Eventually, as wealth increases and skiers progress a larger more advanced ski resort in Mongolia, will be in demand. I spent about 40,000 tugriks to get suit, boots, skis and poles and lift ticket from 9:00am to 1:00pm at 30% off.. I brought my own gloves, goggles, tuk and scarf..... all needed as it was quite cold. I also had long johns, a track bottom under rented suit and three upper layers under rented jacket which was just right. Only parts getting cold even on ski lift were hands and face..... so hand warmers would be good or taking breaks in restaurant, which I did not do. I personally found the lifts a little slow, but overall it was a fun morning. The organizers need to get the outdoor ticket booths on the NORTH side covered as lining up at -21 and slight wind chill is miserable.....even for the ticket booth attendants. Oh, and do not forget your ID as I did...........along with many other people...... which you must leave when renting equipment. This can be remedied by management getting equipment renters to remind us silly folk, when returning equipment, to not forget picking up our ID's. This will avoid the pile of ID's I saw in the safe after only 3 days of business, when I went back the next day to get mine. Still I will be going back on this slope when I return to Mongolia.:)
Dave
2009-12-18 06:35:56
I had the opportunity to try this out last week. The rental equipment was decent, though the system needs to be organized better with a specific place for returning equipment. The building was nice, but definitely agree with the comment above that the ticket window should be either inside or have some type of cover. Great beginner and teaching terrain, though very limited for intermediate to advanced skiers. The steeper slopes were not open yet, but its a long slow lift for a relatively small amount of vertical. The fixed grip quads are quite slow compared to a high speed quad, but they get you up the hill. They do need small signs and/or markers in the snow indicating where to load/unload. But hey, any skiing is good and the area has the potential to be expanded in the future. The price was certainly good, 26,000 tugriks for two of us for a half day with equipment rental, about $20 US.
tamirchin
2009-12-27 05:16:52
Is it allowed to use own ski-equipment like snowboards and skis?
ToMongolia
2009-12-27 08:17:36
Yes, you can use your own equipment.
Puba
2010-01-05 19:56:06
Do you have own shop at the resort for skis and ski shoes etc, Are there other sport shops in Ulan Bator where we can buy own skis, shoes, poles etc
Amaraaa
2010-01-06 04:15:52
Dear Dan and Unuruu Happy new year and I really appreciate for your post below which is giving further replies and information to web visitors.This is big contribution to our marketing and public relation activity.Thank you very much and wish you all the best behalf of all the staffs of Sky resort company. /yes we have ski shop in our ski house which is offering you various types of ski, boots, boards, goggles,gloves even we have luxurious brand named LACROIX titanium ski/ BR Marketing manager Sky Resort LLC
fromlondontocapetown
2010-01-11 14:54:02
How long is it open? I'll be there in march, keeping my fingers crossed for snow. . .
ToMongolia
2010-01-14 15:08:32
Yes open in March Closes in April, or May at the most depending on weather.
djwar520
2011-03-29 06:06:11
I am very interested in your article, http://www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com thank you!
versace eyewear
2011-03-31 09:56:19
great post,Thank you so much,like.

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