From snow to grass: Naltar Valley welcomes a new era of adventure sports

The lush, green slopes of Naltar Valley in Gilgit‑Baltistan played host in 2024 to the first edition of GB Grass Ski Championship — marking a fresh and exciting chapter for summer-season skiing in the region. Grass-skiing — a variation of alpine skiing using skis suitable for grass slopes — is still relatively new in Pakistan. The 2024 championship at Naltar aimed to showcase this emerging sport and build momentum for adventure tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The event was organised by Winter Sports Federation Pakistan (WSFP), in collaboration with local authorities and winter-sports enthusiasts, under the broader aim of promoting both competitive sports and eco-tourism in the mountainous north. For the first time, Naltar — better known for snow skiing in winter — opened its slopes for grass skiing, extending its sporting value beyond the cold months and offering a summer-friendly alternative.