- Title: Lebanese hit the slopes in Kfardebian
- Date: 15th January 2017
- Summary: KFARDEBIAN, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOUNTAIN WITH SNOW AS SEEN FROM KFARDEBIAN VILLAGE PEOPLE SKIING DOWN MOUNTAIN / PEOPLE ON SKI LIFT PEOPLE BEING TRANSPORTED BY SKI LIFT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SKIING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KIDS ENTERTAINER AND SKIER, SERGE, SAYING: ''I have been skiing for fifteen years, this year the season started early, it's mind blowing. We noticed that in Europe the ski season hasn't started yet, so it's an advantage for Lebanon, as they come and try skiing here.'' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE CAFETERIA IN SKI RESORT CARS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESORT / PEOPLE SKIING ON MOUNTAIN VIEW OF THE RESORT / PEOPLE TAKING SKI LIFT TO THE SLOPES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED BY SLOPE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SKIING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT AT AUB, RIM MOUSTAFA, SAYING: ''It's the first time that I try skiing, and it's really nice because there's a lot of people and so on, the ski season in Lebanon is known for that.'' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SKIING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SKI MONITOR AND CARPENTER, CHARBEL SAKR, SAYING: ''This season is great, it started very well, it's been a while that the season didn't start before holidays, this year it started two weeks before, it's mind blowing, the snow is great, sun is great, the snow quality is great, it's cold. It's good.'' PEOPLE SLIDING DOWN SNOWY SLOPE ON SLEDS PEOPLE PLAYING IN THE SNOW VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH SNOW
- Embargoed: 29th January 2017 11:03
- Keywords: Lebanon skiiing Kfardebian
- Location: KFARDEBIAN, LEBANON
- City: KFARDEBIAN, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015Z6XAAD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Snow-capped mountains in the Lebanese ski resort of Mzaar Kfardebian signal the start to the country's ski season.
Lebanese are hitting the slopes, making the most of the early snowfall with experienced skiers as well as those new to the sport taking to the piste.
''I have been skiing for fifteen years, this year the season started early, it's mind blowing. We noticed that in Europe the ski season hasn't started yet, so it's an advantage for Lebanon, as they come and try skiing here,'' said skier Serge.
For others it's an opportunity to try out the winter sport.
''It's the first time that I try skiing, and it's really nice because there's a lot of people and so on, the ski season in Lebanon is known for that," said Rim Moustafa.
''This season is great, it started very well, it's been a while that the season didn't start before holidays, this year it started two weeks before, it's mind blowing, the snow is great, sun is great, the snow quality is great, it's cold. It's good,'' added ski monitor Charbel Sakr.
The season usually begins in December ending in late April. But in previous years a lack of snow has resulted in a shorter season, often impacting local trade in the area which relies heavily on the winter visitors.
And it's not all downhill at the resort -- the good weather attracts up to 10,000 visitors a day over the weekend, according to a local official.
Kfardebian is the largest ski resort in the Middle East, around an hour away from the country's capital Beirut.
For visitors not wanting to try out the dozens of runs on offer here, there's always the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the apres-ski activities. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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