Chinese kazakhs try to preserve treasury of cultural heritage - ancient skis

Bishkek, Dec. 11, 2023. / Kabar/. Kazakh people living in Altay Prefecture of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China try to preserve treasury of cultural heritage – the skis with horse-hides.

Local residents, the 51 percent of which are ethnic Kazakh, consider Altay to be the birthplace of skiing. The Kazakhs living here hand down the ancient craft of ski making from generation to generation over thousands of years.

The people originally living on the territory of Altay used the skins of various animals to make skis for movement in winter.

The creation of such traditional skis is a representation of the culture of local peoples. Local residents call these skis the treasury of cultural heritage of Altay Prefecture.

70 years old Slambek Sagyshuly at a meeting with journalists from Central Asian countries and Russia told reporters about his craft.

Slambek is known as a ski master not only in Altay, but also abroad. He has received many awards and skiers come to him from thousands of kilometers to order such skis.

He began to engage in the craft at the age of 15 with his father. Slambek is a representative of the 4th generation and his son Kuvanyshbek also engages in and is the continuer of this craft.

The skis made by Slambek usually bought by those who play sports, but not professionally or for personal needs in daily life. In ancient time the people used such skis for hunting. Currently they are used in places where there is a lot of snow. In winter times nomads, some herders use them to carry food products items as transport does not reach in some places.

The master explained that the modern skis are effective for descending, and his skis are very convenient for ascending.

In the course of many archaeological studies and excavations, scientists have discovered drawings on the rocks that indicate that ancient people used planks attached to their feet to cross snow-covered roads several thousand years ago.

One of such rocks is located in Altay, various petroglyphs were found in an ancient human settlement, which depicts how ancient people already at that time used equipment for winter movement 12,000 years BC ago.

About 20 media representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Russia visited on December 3-10 Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China to get acquainted with tourism potential of the region.

Nurzhan Kasmalieva