On September 22-23, the resort will host the first North Caucasus Federal District Open Downhill Championship, a high-speed mountain bike race. Both professional cyclists and mountain bike enthusiasts are welcome to participate.
"The race will take place in "There are five categories. "Elite" refers to experienced athletes whose professionalism must be confirmed by a UCI (International Cycling Union) license. There is also a "junior" category for cyclists aged 16-18, "amateurs" for 19-30, and "masters" for those over 30. A separate category is for women aged 17 and above," explained the press service of JSC North Caucasus Resorts (JSC KSK).
Downhill for professionals and amateurs
The race will take place on a track descending from an altitude of 2,240 meters. All competitors will be able to take practice rides at the bike park in the Romantik tourist village on September 22, the day of the race, and the day before. This will allow them to assess the difficulty of the tracks and technical elements, test their strength, and prepare for the qualifying and final races.
JSC KSK noted that special attention will be paid to the safety of the participants. Before the race, the equipment will be checked for proper operation, and both riders and amateurs will be wearing helmets and additional protective equipment. Amateur cyclists will be required to present a valid sports medical insurance policy upon registration.
"All of our country's strongest racers will be attending the competition, and the brand-new 'red' track will be used," Ivan Kunaev, a master of sports in mountain biking, told the Interfax-Tourism portal.
According to him, the resort is actively building bike trails, and one of the best bike parks in Russia could eventually open there. "Arkhyz has been building good trails for years—first for skiing, and now for cycling. By the end of this season, there will be four: one green, two blue, and a red. Sochi is currently considered the best cycling resort in the country, but Arkhyz has better terrain and weather, and it has great potential," noted I. Kunaev.
He added that tourists at the resort could benefit from a "full package" for organizing their vacation. "Ideally, we should create package services: you buy accommodation, meals, and transfers. For those visiting Arkhyz for the first time, this is very convenient," concluded I. Kunaev.
Training area
When not in competition, Arkhyz becomes a training ground for professional athletes. This summer, the resort hosted three weeks of training for the St. Petersburg national biathlon team and members of the Russian national biathlon team.
More than 20 biathletes participated in the training camp. The program included a range of physical exercises, including marathons and target practice.
"Arkhyz welcomed us very warmly. They have high-quality service, good food, and accommodations," said Alexander Merzlyakov, coach of the St. Petersburg biathlon team and Master of Sports in Biathlon.
"The resort is an excellent place for training; it offers all the necessary conditions for improving athletes' functional fitness. In the future, if roller ski trails are built here and the shooting range is improved, Arkhyz will be no less attractive as a training base than similar sites in Europe," he noted.
Arkhyz and snowboarders
This coming ski season, Arkhyz will host a stage of the Russian Snowboard Cup for the first time.
"We plan to take part in the competition, and I'm sure it will go well," Denis Tikhomirov, president of the Russian Snowboard Federation, told the Interfax-Tourism portal.
He added that he believes the resort has great potential, especially with the construction of ski infrastructure on the northern slope. "I've been to Arkhyz myself, and I really liked it. The slopes here vary in terrain, from steep to gentle. There's a shady side where the snow will stay for a long time. The roads and infrastructure are good," noted D. Tikhomirov.
All-Russian Sports Base
Construction of new slopes and cable cars on the resort's north-facing slope is expected to be completed by the end of December; more than 350 technical personnel and over 130 vehicles and special equipment are currently involved in construction and installation work.
Three gondola sections of the Northern Lights cableway are planned to open to tourists, with a capacity of 2,500 people per hour up to an altitude of 2,505 meters, and approximately 11 km of new trails of all difficulty levels.
"Our strategic goal is to make the North Caucasus resorts, including Arkhyz, not only popular tourist destinations but also important training grounds for winter sports athletes—alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and more," said Rustam Tapayev, Deputy General Director of JSC KSK. "Our colleagues from sports federations and the athletes who come to Arkhyz all note the resort's high potential for professional sports."
Source: tourism.interfax.ru