Asian Winter Games: Ski mountaineering to make debut at this year's competition
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Ski mountaineering will make its Asian Winter Games debut in northeastern China's Harbin this year. 

Many countries have eagerly signed up to compete. 

Our reporter Gou Tianqi joined the provincial team of the Xizang Autonomous Region to find out more about the event. 

When you think of sports related to skiing, you probably picture zig-zagging down a mountain, smooth and stylish. 

GOU TIANQI Jilin City, Jilin Province "This is definitely not what I had in mind."

This is Ski Mountaineering, new to the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games. 

LANGJIA DUOJI Head Coach, Xizang Ski Mountaineering Team "Ski Mountaineering is a winter sport derived from mountaineering. It's mainly about climbing, with skiing as a secondary element."

I met with Langjia Duoji, head coach of the Xizang Ski mountaineering team who was once a professional athlete in the sport. He took me through the full experience of climbing up and skiing down the slope. 

LANGJIA DUOJI Head Coach, Xizang Ski Mountaineering Team "The ski skin is an essential piece of equipment in our sport. 

We attach it to the bottom of the skis to increase friction and prevent slippage, which helps as we climb. 

It needs to be removed when it's time to ski downhill."

"Drag, don't lift the skis. Just drag them along."

Mountaineering itself demands high levels of physical strength and willpower. Now, imagine doing it with skis, on snow. 

GOU TIANQI Jilin City, Jilin Province "And when we come to parts that are too steep, we need to take off our skis, put them on our back, and continue the climb."

LANGJIA DUOJI Head Coach, Xizang Ski Mountaineering Team "To me, the greatest appeal of Ski Mountaineering is the sense of reaching the summit, step by step. 

It's tough, but when you get to the top, it feels like it's all worth it. 

You feel like you've conquered everything."

GOU TIANQI Jilin City, Jilin Province "Finally, after all the climbing, I've made it to the top of the track that the coach has set for me. It took me approximately 20 minutes. The coach said for his team members, probably just 3-4 minutes. But I'm still proud of myself, I made it. And now all that's left is for me to ski down. Which I'm kind of getting the feeling, is going to be the easy part."

Well, maybe for the pros. 

At this year's Harbin Asian Winter Games, athletes competing in Ski Mountaineering will race to complete a set course. The event consists of three races: the Men's Sprint, Women's Sprint, and the Mixed Relay. 

They will also be newly featured at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. 

Gou Tianqi, CGTN, Jilin Province.