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A Wild Boar Chase

Cross-Country Skiing from Morning to Night
Wojtek Antonów
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time 8 minutes
Wojtek Antonów:
Used to be an editor of the Sports section.

Getting on a tram on a Saturday morning in January with my skis, I feel the eyes of almost every passenger on me. I’m not bothered – several centimetres of snow fell overnight and I managed to rent the last set of cross-country skis which, along with the ski poles, I am holding tightly in my hand.

I get off at the bus stop for Bielański Forest in the north of Warsaw, the frost pleasantly prickling my face. I attach the long narrow skis to my boots and do a few warm-up exercises; everything seems to work alright. I can set off…

Poland doesn’t jump, Poland runs

In truth, cross-country skiing should be the Polish national winter sport instead of ski jumping. It is difficult for normal mortals to pop to a ski jump in a spare moment to imitate the exploits of Kamil Stoch, but anyone can clip on cross-country skis and go for

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Wojtek Antonów:
Used to be an editor of the Sports section.
Translation: Annie Krasińska
Publish date: 07.12.2017

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10 Reasons to Go Skiing in Japan
Wojtek Antonów
Wojtek Antonów:
Used to be an editor of the Sports section.

Japan is an increasingly popular destination for skiers and snowboarders who want to experience real powder. Pictures and videos of people riding neck-deep snow (either on a two- or one-bladed object) fire the imagination, and meteorological data show that an exceptional amount of snow falls in Japan. About 72% of the country is covered by mountains, and the majority of them are perfect for winter sports. The best resorts are on the island of Hokkaido, and the most popular is Niseko – mentioned in many global ski rankings as a must-ski location. But it’s not the rankings that should convince you to plan a ski trip to the Land of the Cherry Blossoms; there are at least 10 reasons.

ICHI (one) – The snow

As in Europe, winter in Japan lasts from December to March, but the snowfall is exceptionally plentiful. In the north of the country, the cover often exceeds eight metres, and white flakes fall from the heavens on average for 130 days in the year. This is caused by masses of cold air that arrive from over Siberia and meet warm, moist air over the Sea of Japan, creating moisture-packed snow clouds. The falling snow can be so thick that you can’t see your hand in front of your face, and as much as two metres can fall in a 24-hour period.

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