The idea of skiing in summer dog days would have been impossible even in the snow and ice-rich northeast a decade ago. With less than 180 days to go before the Opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, off-season snow playing is no longer a new phenomenon in Jilin Province, where dry skiing venues and indoor skiing resorts spring up like mushrooms, the joy of which leaves many children panting for more.

Helmet firm, skis on, jump up the slope, and dive down... Clean moves on dry slopes are pieced together without a break. Despite the scorching sun at 10 a.m. in one day, Changchun Extreme Skiing Park attracted more than ten teenagers to “check-in”. Some of them slid single board, some slide double board. Waves of laughter swept across the dry slopes, which seemed to be covered with flammulina mushrooms. “Although it is hot, it is cool enough to be able to ski in the summer.” Niu Mutong said, a primary school student from Changchun Liberation Road Primary School.

Covering an area of nearly 2,000 square meters, this dry skiing park has elementary and intermediate dry slopes and advanced ski jumping platforms, as well as a physical core training center and a combined power magic carpet, which can meet the needs of different levels of trainers. “We just want to enable the kids to play in the world of snow in the summer.” Since its completion in 2019, it has become a popular summer vacation destination for teenagers, according to Zhao Huaxia, deputy general manager of Jilin Extreme Snow and Ice Sports Development Co., Ltd.

In Jilin City, about 80 kilometers from the main city of Changchun, the dry skiing bandwagon is also starting to roll. In October 2020, Jilin city’s first four-season dry skiing academy was officially launched. Reporters at the scene noticed that the academy was located indoors. With fans cooling off, several children were practicing giant slalom turn. Zhang Xiaofeng, operating principal of the academy, told reporters that 376 students had signed up to master new skills since the beginning of the summer vacation, including 305 students under 11.  

“During this summer vacation, I practice figure skating every morning and go skiing in the afternoon.” A seven-year-old student named Wang Guanxin told the reporter.  

Originating in the UK, dry skiing was first used in the summer training of professional skiers. As the experience brought by its material is 90% similar to real snow, it has gradually been promoted in many places worldwide. Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in 2015 that the 2022 Winter Olympic Games would be held in Beijing, dry skiing that breaks seasonal and site-specific restrictions have been popular among many cities. Besides, it is also a supplement to the non-snow season operating time for northeastern cities, which are naturally rich in snow and ice.  

On July 17, the first youth skiing event dry skiing competition began in Changchun. Although it is  summer vacation, five major items involving 32 small items allowed more than 100 teenagers to participate in snow playing without getting bored. “The dry skiing competition not only provides a new platform for young people to compete but also ignites their enthusiasm to participate in ice and snow sports in summer and enriches their summer vacation,” said Jiang Wenbo, deputy director of Changchun Winter Sports Administration Center.

With the Summer Olympics in Tokyo coming to an end, the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing has become the next “Olympic expectation” for children. As China’s earliest cities to carry out ice and snow sports and develop ice and snow economy, Changchun city and Jilin city have not only nurtured many famous winter Olympics stars such as Zhou Yang, Li Jianrou, and Wu Dajing but also set up 16 snow resorts and more than 200 ice rinks for children to play in the annual snow season. While some skiing resorts are unavailable in the midsummer, these two ice cities can still ensure desirable snow to slide on.  

Currently, besides dry skiing, children can also ski on the snow made by snow machines. Coming to Jilin Beishan Four Seasons Cross-Country Skiing resort, you would feel like entering the coldest day in winter for most of the children skiing here are wearing down jackets and gloves, and the exhaled white steam can be seen during the exercise. “I often come here to ski during the summer vacation. As a child from northeast China, it is delighted to see snow in summer. Since I have access to such good conditions, I should practice skiing well.” said Jin Yuhan, a student from the Fourth Primary School in Jilin City.

The “all seasons like winter” skiing resort, converted from civil air defense construction, became Asia’s first all-weather standardized professional skiing training site when it was put into use in January 2019. Over the past two years, the 1,308-meter-long slope; has attracted numerous young skiers with a maximum slope of 8 degrees. “ Since it came on stream, we have organized summer camps for snow and ice sports every year to provide free guidance to teenagers.” Jilin City Sports Bureau deputy director Liu Yijun said.  

As a lively winter sports venue in the summer with ice rinks lasting for years, Jilin Ice Sports Training Center is another local “summer fitness” resort, which is kicked into full gear almost every day. During the interview, more than 20 primary school students were practicing figure skating under the guidance of the coach. “There are about ten teams training here every day, and the average daily utilization rate of the rink is about 400,”  said Wang Yang, head of the Field Section of Jilin City Ice Sports Training Center.

Since 2016, Changchun Ice Skating Center, which used to be used for professional echelon training and competition, has canceled the “energy-saving” mode from May to August, realized year-round operation, and limited the opening time to the public. Due to the epidemic prevention and control, the Changchun Ice Skating Center has limited the total number of visitors since this summer vacation. However, it still achieved an average daily reception of about 360 people.  

Mofu, the G day after the start of autumn, fell on August 10 this year, and the summer vacation is coming to an end. Looking back on the days “in the world of snow” during the hot summer, Niu Mutong, a lover of dry skiing, said: “I have mastered the skills of giant slalom turn and parallel event during this vacation, which is rewarding. I look forward to making more rapid progress when skiing in winter.”