The first stage of construction of a unique ski-roller stadium is being completed in Chelyabinsk

A multifunctional stadium is being built on Abrikosova Street, near Karpov Pond. For the city, this is a significant facility, previously our athletes could only dream of such a thing.

Construction began in June this year. The head of Chelyabinsk, Natalya Kotova, noted that it would not have been possible without the support of Governor Alexei Teksler.

“We want the Chelyabinsk skiing center to become one of the best in the country and host competitions of any level,” the mayor said during her visit to the construction site.

The head of the department for physical culture and sports of the administration of Chelyabinsk, Maxim Kleshchevnikov, told the MK-Chelyabinsk correspondent that the construction of the first stage was coming to an end: now the work on connecting electricity was being completed.

– In winter, the situation is aggravated by the fact that daylight hours are short, which means that there is less time for sports. The uniqueness of this track is that it is located in the Central District of the city, it is the northern slope, the track is compact, located in a birch forest. It was in this place that the Ural ski battalions trained during the Great Patriotic War, here the fighters were trained and went to the front, ”explained Maxim Kleshchevnikov.

By the way, at the second stage of construction, a monument will be erected in memory of the ski battalions.

The total length of ski-roller tracks will be 3.75 kilometers. At the moment, a 2.5-kilometer track has been built, a stadium 250 by 80 meters, a fence has been installed, 20 equipped wax cabins (rooms for changing clothes and preparing equipment before entering the track – Auth.).

Work is underway to organize the parking space and landscaping the territory. Additionally, a modular toilet for guests will be installed.

– The uniqueness of this object is that the height difference – 150 meters over five kilometers – meets all the homologation requirements for ski slopes. It will be handed over at the end of the year. Veterans and athletes have already begun to master the track. When there was no snow, roller skis and cyclists rode there,” says Maxim Kleshchevnikov.

At the second stage (in 2023 – Auth.), an open biathlon shooting range will be equipped, a ski-roller track will be extended, work on water supply and sanitation, organization of parking spaces and outdoor sports grounds will continue. Design and estimate documentation is being developed. At the third stage (in 2024 – Auth.), the construction of a modern sports and recreation complex will begin.

Rich traditions

This year on the territory of the multifunctional stadium there will be a snowboarding slope with a drag lift. According to experts, in some respects the new track is slightly inferior to the center of Ishmuratova in Zlatoust, but it is not worth comparing with other tracks in the region – in Poletaevo and Korkino, because they belong to the level of initial training.

Vladimir Voronov, director of the Chelyabinsk Olympic Reserve Sports School No. 5 for skiing, noted that professional athletes will appreciate the quality of training on this track.

“Our city has rich traditions in cross-country skiing and biathlon, our athletes certainly deserve a modern ski biathlon complex – that’s what I call it,” he says. – In terms of functionality, terrain, logistics, we will not lose to other tracks. Recently we had an Olympic champion Sergey Ustyugov as a guest, who was surprised that such an object is being built in Chelyabinsk. The cyclist Petr Rikunov also gave a high mark. His colleagues also practice classes on ski-roller tracks. While all the reviews are positive, during the operation we will work out all the pros and cons.

School No. 5 has cross-country skiing, biathlon, orienteering, and archery departments. The season started in November, the athletes are already training in Zlatoust, on Zyuratkul. The first starts begin in the second half of the month. According to Vladimir Voronov, Chelyabinsk athletes have great prospects.

– Of the leaders, I would note Danil Korpachev and Maxim Artemov, who are included in the reserve team of Russia in the age category from 21 to 23 years. That year they performed at the Russian Championship, were next to the medals. We hope everything works out this year. The department has been working on biathlon not so long ago, Natalya Lvovna Sokolova, Honored Master of Sports in biathlon, is working with the guys. The youth has just completed the initial training, it takes time for the results – at least one more Olympic cycle. And even before they had nowhere to train, there are practically no shooting ranges in Chelyabinsk, only in Kashtak, where reconstruction is needed. It was also problematic to organize trips to training camps: the shooting range in Zlatoust was closed for us. I think that with the advent of a multifunctional stadium, everything will change, we plan to invite another coach to work. We will also open a snowboard department at the beginning of next year. We talked with parents, coaches, there are already appeals – there will be no problems with recruitment, – summed up Vladimir Voronov.

Natalya Sokolova, Honored Master of Sports in biathlon, 14-time European champion, coach of MBU “ShOR No. 5” also has high hopes for the new stadium.

– We were forced to go to training for 300 kilometers in Abzakovo. It’s far and expensive. The regional championship was held in Yekaterinburg. On the new track, thanks to the lighting, it will be possible to train at any time. There are many people who want to go in for biathlon: they have recruited three groups,” the champion shared.

Ski track along the lake

There are four institutions in Chelyabinsk where young champions in skiing are educated: school № 5, ChTZ sports school, Metar-sport and Metallurg-sport. Recently, the sports department summed up the voting in social networks for the best school. SCHOR No. 5 took the lead. According to Maxim Kleshchevnikov, this is expected, because it was from this institution that the chronicle of skiing in Chelyabinsk began.

– The coaching staff of all schools are professionals, fans of their craft, people who have brought up more than one generation of skiers. It is they who should be entrusted with the upbringing and healing of children, ”he says. – In total, about five thousand people go in for skiing in our city. These are not only pupils of municipal schools, but also student, professional teams, veterans, private clubs. We have created all the conditions for this. On the territory of the park areas, instructors from the Sports City and School No. 5 prepare the ski track. We have Kashtak – a large forest area where residents of the Metallurgical District ski. Unfortunately, the further development of the biathlon complex in Kashtak hinders the special status of this territory. To popularize, we continue to support our ski base at Lesoparkovaya, 2a. Last year, rental equipment was updated, warm toilets were equipped. It is very comfortable and convenient here. We are also considering other options for arranging ski slopes, for example, in Nikolskaya Grove. I am sure they will be in demand among residents of the North-East and ChTZ. Another project is the organization of a ski track along the First Lake, between two municipal facilities – a boxing school on Khokhryakova and a site on the street. Mommy, 2 years old We are also thinking about how we can connect the new ski-roller track with the Rifey sports complex. We are developing an eco-trail project, where in winter and summer one could walk and do physical education. I have no doubt that Chelyabinsk residents will also appreciate it.