Skiers from Kabul, Pajshir and Bamiyan provinces came together on Saturday to participate in the inaugural two-day skiing contest in the Abdullah Khil valley in Panjshir province.

Afghanistan Ski Federation said the competition aims to promote skiing in the country and to attract tourists to Panjshir province.

“The purpose of holding such competitions is to turn skiing into a culture in this province," said Haroon Kargar, technical deputy of the ski federation.

Panjshir locals have enjoyed the snow for many years and on Saturday expressed their excitement about the contest.

However, no female skiers took part.

Meanwhile ski federation members said they hope some of the skiers taking part in the event would soon be ready to participate in international contests.  

Panjshir people welcomed the competition.

“Panjshir youths' enthusiasm in playing in the snow in traditional ways shows that they are interested in skiing and want the sport to be promoted in the province", Shoaib,a tribal elder said.

At the end of the competition, skis and other equipment were handed out to youths in Panjshir by the ski federation and the Bamiyan ski team.

Currently Bamyan is the only province which hosts annual skiing competitions, where both males and females participate.