Chitral Winter Training Camp – Shaping the Future of Ice Sports in Pakistan
High in the frozen valleys of Upper Chitral, where winter paints every surface in silver and the mountains hold centuries of untouched beauty, a new chapter of Pakistani winter sports quietly unfolded. The Chitral Ice Sports Training Camp, held in early 2023 at Parwak, Mastuj, became one of the most inspiring grassroots initiatives to emerge from the north — a program that did more than train athletes. It awakened dreams.
Organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture & Tourism Authority (KPCTA) in collaboration with the Winter Sports Federation of Pakistan (WSFP), the camp gathered more than 50 young boys and girls from remote valleys including Broghil, Yarkhoon Lasht, Kalash, Laspur, Gaboor, and other scattered villages across Chitral. Many of these children had never seen a formal sports facility — yet they arrived with unmatched courage, natural talent, and the raw strength of mountain life.
For three intense days, trained coaches — including international experts — introduced the athletes to ice hockey, ice curling, skating techniques, and the foundations of competitive winter sport. Equipped with proper gear provided during the camp, the young participants practiced on natural ice surfaces, learning balance, teamwork, speed, and discipline in a setting most athletes around the world only dream of.