Lebanon is one of the smallest countries holding both summer and winter ski races.

With the objective of promoting Grass Skiing within the country, the Lebanese Ski Association held the FIS Grass Skiing World Cup competition in Faqra Club, Kfardebian from 12th to 14th July 2013. 

Under the patronage of his higher Excellency President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Sleiman, ten countries and 33 athletes, both ladies and men, participated in the competitions.

The world class grass skiers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Slovakia, Switzerland and Lebanon participated and enjoyed sunny weather on the slopes of Faqra Club-Lebanon.

On the first competition day Austria's Jaquelin Gerlach and Switzerland's Mirko Hueppi won the slalom races.

Yukiyo Shintani of Japan and Eduardo Frau took victory in both the giant slalom and slalom races on the following competition days. 

In winter, Lebanon carries out FIS races for all categories (ladies, men and children) and in all disciplines (Cross-Country, Alpine Skiing and Snowboard).

It also has an International Week, where high level racers are invited to compete and visit the varied slopes that reach up to 2,800 meters.

The challenge for the Lebanese Ski Association comes from the short snow season, reaching a maximum of four months which makes it difficult to regularly train.

This is why Grass Skiing allows people to still practice skiing, while staying in Lebanon. Another main challenge in the discipline of Grass Skiing is a rainless three-month summer but the Grass Skiing slope in Lebanon has one of the best designed watering systems in the Grass Skiing world.

Source: planetski.eu