Moscow ski slopes: pros, cons, snowy rocks
The snow in Moscow fell surprisingly early this year. But even though the snow closed the cycling season ahead of schedule, it opened the ski season!
Whatever one may say, skiing in our country is one of the most popular cyclic sports. And this is the best alternative to triathlon training in the winter - no other sport can offer such functional and comprehensive work for the whole body.
The main question for those who are just getting acquainted with skiing is where to ski and what to wear on themselves and their feet. Therefore, we are launching a winter series of materials about skiing: where, how, in what and how much.
Today we will tell you about the main places for cross-country skiing in Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region. In general, you can just go skiing in virtually every park in Moscow, but there are not so many trails suitable for quality training. Let's look at the main ones.
**Routes of the nearest Moscow region near the Moscow Ring Road
Odintsovo** The route is located near Moscow, runs along the asphalt surface of a roller ski track, that is, the surface is flat and without bumps. As of mid-November, the track was in good condition. There are changing rooms in the stadium building. The route is illuminated at night.
Address: 3rd km. Krasnogorskoe highway. Distances: 3, 6, 10 km - roller circles, winter ones in preparation. Width: from 4 m. Height difference: ~50 m. Total height difference: ~165 m. Direction of movement: counterclockwise.
Meshchersky Park New place for skiing, appeared several years ago. However, it immediately became one of the best in the Moscow region. The reasons are simple - developed infrastructure, administration support for any sports activities and the right equipment that maintains the tracks. The longest circle is more than 5 kilometers long. There are 4 and 1.3 km laps. For tourist routes, there are two tracks with a length of 1.8 and 2.6 km. The width of the tracks varies from 3 to 6 meters. On the sides there is space for adherents of the classical style, in the middle - for the ridge style. To prepare the trails, a special Husky Rat-rak snow compacting machine is used. There is lighting for skating at night and changing rooms. Address: Moscow region, nearest railway station Skolkovo. The exact location is at the link.
Krasnogorsk
The track in Krasnogorsk is one of the oldest in the immediate Moscow region. Qualifications for the World Championships and Olympics have been held here for many years. Unfortunately, now the track is not prepared at the top level, but it’s good for an amateur. Buranami rolls her, by the way, 12-time world champion Ivan Utrobin. As of mid-November, the condition of the loops in the forest is satisfactory, there are mounds and branches, leaves. There is no classic ski track. The circle in and around the stadium is in better condition than the circles in the forest, but decent “Olympic terrain” is not suitable for every beginner. Unfortunately, there are no ski tracks here yet. Therefore, you can only skate. There are paid locker rooms that usually open with the official start of the season, not in November. The 1.5 kilometer circle is illuminated until approximately 19:00. Address: Krasnogorsk, Zorkiy ski stadium, Rechnaya street, building 37.
And such loops in the forest
Bitsa
A favorite place for Moscow skiers, also because of its location - the piste is the most “Moscow” one. In recent years, it has been threatened by a large construction project, but activists are collecting petitions, which is what we are talking about. So far, the 2.3 kilometer circle, which is located outside the Moscow Ring Road, is in good condition. Address: Moscow, South-Western Administrative District, 36th km of the MKAD.
Romashkovo
A famous place for skiing right next to the Moscow Ring Road. The abundance of circles (from 2 kilometers to 17) and their great length, interesting and moderate relief. The access to the highway from the outer Moscow Ring Road is currently closed due to construction. Therefore, you can get there from the Medic stadium or from the village of Romashkovo. The stadium has warm changing rooms. There is no lighting on the track. Address: Romashkovsky forest, 58 kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road.
The rubble on the highway has been removed, and the surface is now being leveled using snowstorms and a harrow. Photo from November 14.
Glider An old and famous track where starts at the Moscow Championship level are held. There is a forest part of the route, a flat part and a field part - with an abundance of difficult climbs. At the moment (mid-November), the track is being prepared rather tentatively, although you can ride. There is a locker room. Address: Moscow region, Khimki district, Olympic training and sports center "Planernaya".
Mid season photo
Ski center named after Anfisa Reztsova “Snezhinka”
The track on Snezhinka is simple - one circle is 5 kilometers, even in the depths of winter. But there is a retractor and a lot of competitions are held, so the condition is usually very good. There is a locker room, restrooms and track lighting. Address: Michurina street, building 24, Khimki.
Fresh photo from “Snezhinka”
**Places for skiing inside Moscow
**These tracks are more suitable for amateurs, have shorter laps and simpler terrain. And conveniently located for those who live within Moscow.
Tushinskaya highway in Aleshkinsky forest
The training site of the children's sports school, where Alexander Legkov began his skiing journey. There are laps from 1.5 kilometers to 7.5 kilometers. The track is prepared in winter by a retrac. At night, there is lighting on a 1.5 kilometer circle. A good place to train within the city. Address: entrance from Vilisa Latsis street, map.
**Krylatskoe
**Although the place is a cycling mecca, there is good infrastructure for winter sports. In particular, the ski slope and loops along the bicycle route. There is no lighting or changing rooms.
Krylatskoye cycling ring in winter.
Izmailovsky Park
There are places both for walks in the park part and for training in the forest. The first option is mainly a plain for skiing, while the second has parts with moderate relief. They are located in the forest part of the park. Arrival from the side of the Avangard stadium. There is no lighting or changing rooms.
Sokolniki
Here the situation is approximately the same as with Izmailovsky Park. There are ski tracks for active recreation in more crowded places and more serious tracks in the depths of the park, near the Putyaevsky Ponds cascade. This year, Moscow Mayor S. Sobyanin promised to make the track the best for skiing within Moscow. Let's hope! In the meantime, they made what the park itself calls an “all-weather ski track.” Its length is almost two kilometers. In the evening the track is illuminated with lanterns. To ensure that the snow cover remained in normal condition, the path was fenced on both sides with a mesh fence. Ski track in Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo park Another place on the Muscovite’s ski map is the park around the old Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo estate and surrounding areas. They say this year they started replacing heating pipes there and dug up part of the route, cutting off a couple of loops. But the route is still convenient for people who live nearby.
Great lawn of Moscow State University One five-kilometer circle near the main building of Moscow State University. When a lot of snow is prepared with a retractor, the height difference here is used to the maximum, although it is small - there is a small slope along the route along Kosygina Street.
Elk Island A giant forest park within the city and even more gigantic outside the Moscow Ring Road. There is no special preparation, but hundreds of skiers walk here and therefore the ski track is quite comfortable and long. There are really remote places where you can see moose and other wildlife. You can enter from the Golyanovo district, from the Yaroslavskoe highway and through Sokolniki Park.
**Ski track in Timiryazevsky Park
Walking ski track in Timiryazevsky Park. It’s hard to call this a trail, but you can walk around the park on skis. **
Places for ski training in the Moscow region
Golovino (Volokolamsk direction)
The main track of the Moscow region with the highest level of lap preparation. It’s usually a couple of degrees colder here and therefore the snow cannons start working in early December (this season already in November). The Istina ski school trains here, so it is not a place for mass recreational skiing, but rather for serious training. There is lighting, but it is tailored for skiers from the local club. There are no changing rooms. The length of the route is 15 kilometers, there are an abundance of different circles - from 2 kilometers to 15. Address and how to get there follow the link in Google.
Peresvet An old highway in the town of Peresvet, which has been greatly improved over the past few years, including with the participation of Alexander Legkov. There is a roller skating track, snow cannons, lighting and a hotel with changing rooms, showers and lockers. The relief is varied, as are the circles. An excellent place for serious training and a high level of preparation. Entrance to the track costs 250 rubles. Address: Moscow region, Peresvet, st. Pionerskaya, 9.
** GABO**
The full name of the route is GABO folk ski track. It is made by local enthusiasts and ski lovers, and I must say, they do it well. There is no retrack, the track is riddled with snowstorms. The season there has already opened (as of mid-November) and they say it’s good there. Track location on Google map.
Club track named after. Nasedkina
The route is located near the village named after. Tsyurupa. Pupils of the sports school and skiing enthusiasts train on the circles. The track is prepared with a retrac and snowstorms, there is lighting and changing rooms in the building next to the track. Address and how to get there: 57th km of Yegoryevskoe highway, turn to the village named after Tsyurupa, 1st km. coordinates of the route “Kelya – 3” on Google maps +55° 30" 25.57", +38° 42" 53.79" named after.
Of course, these are not all ski slopes in the Moscow region. There is a map with all the places for skiing.
Slippery skiing and a good training base to everyone!