Russian Sochi. What do you think?

A snowHead

Hi everybody!
My thread is a bit like a survey. I'm from Moscow, love snowboardind, freeride, I'm an intermediate rider. For me it becomes a tradition to go to russian largest resort in Sochi (where Winter Olympics were held). My friends and I usually find some way to stay for 2-3 months. All the difficulties worth it, because we can just ride

Looking for interesting experience I proposed to invite people from other countries to ride with us. For example via couchsurfing app. As for me it is interesting to communicate and stay together, that's the main thing. You can see I speak English not so bad and my friends speak English and one of them is fluent in German. We see that staying at russian resorts in Sochi is rather expensive and to compare with european resorts the price sometimes doesn't match the quality. However Sochi had been upgraded for 2 years after Olympics. If somebody interested we could make our part. As locals we can find good apartment for acceptable price. We can help with gear and everything. We have a car. If that all doesn't need you can just get lots of information from us and just have fun. One more thing is that we have Elbrus not very far (by Russian standards) from Sochi and could go there. I've been to Elbrus last year and met a group from Switzerland.

My friend told me: if you want to organise all that and invite smb then go ask ppl on the internet first! So pls tell me are you interested in going to Sochi that winter? What do you need at first to be sure in? What is interesting and important for you?

See the map of all Sochi mountain cluster.

A snowHead

I climbed Mount Elbrus in 2005. Magnificent part of the world. Security was very tight at the time with police blockades on all of the roads in the wake of the Beslan massacre which wasn't too far away.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@JoyZipper, you had great experience! I've never climbed any peaks and look for the opportunity to climb El. And I should say it was risky going to that region in 2005. Now the situation changed drastically.
If yo're rider tell me would it be interesting for you visiting Sochi? I see ppl don't make posts. Maybe my idea is wrong Puzzled

and everybody avoids travelling to Russia. However I often hear opposite opinion from foreigners I meet in Moscow.

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@Igor1, cool idea! Actually I climbed/skied Elbrus last year too (let me know if you want a Russian contact if you want to do it too).

I would definitely be interested in skiing in Russia again, but it probably won't be this winter unfortunately!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@clarky999, wow Clarky! I suppose you'll find yourself in other not less exciting places this winter! Just looked through your insta Shocked

Still if you'll need to ask smth about Sochi or Elbrus in the future mail me 3370303@gmail.com.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

For the money involved, the expected quality and not being sure of snow (circa 2200 m high) - what would Sochi provide as an experience compared to Morzine, St Anton, Tignes?

I do not get your message - what are you offering/suggesting? Come over to Austria, France, Bulgaria, Switzerland or Italy and socialise, you are very welcome snowHead

After all it is free

It's a kind offer and I'd definitely consider it if I was travelling to Russia. Just hard to see why I's go to Sochi over other European destinations or even longer haul given cost except for the adventure element.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Snow and Vodka. What's not to like. A bit like the EoSB

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Vodka is shite. Snow - not guaranteed and they would not be bringing it in trucks asthey did it for the games.

snow reports

@mooney058, you're right, I doubt Sochi is better than many resorts in EU. My message is mostly for people who have plans to visit Russia. And not only for riding, maybe for the adventure element as @Dave of the Marmottes said. And I would like to help everyone to accomodate, to have fun and to save time and money

Snow. Since middle of January till end of March we'll be covered with snow. Other time snow is not guaranteed I agree. However last year I finished riding in the end of april. And one more thing Elbrus is the highest mountain in Russia and in Europe.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

@mooney058, I take it easy. Lol I proposed that somebody will take me for a novice manager from Roza-Khutor or even hostel owner from Krasnaya Polyana Laughing

However thanks for your post! Shortly speaking while living in Moscow I'm already fed up with office work and city noise. I'm 30 yo and I love nature so in the end I found a way to work on the Internet. I have to work in Moscow for part of a year, I'm usually a short news editor. And other part I can travel and plan worktime myself. My friends try to follow in some similiar way. And travelling around Europe isn't so expensive, not at all. We stayed in campings and the biggest part of our expenses was gasoline. We even managed to borrow a car from our russian friends who live in Czech Republic.

My whole season skipass in Sochi cost 420 euro. So my plan for December is to find cheap and comfortable lodging near the mountains.

You know I really feel great when I see people cooperating. While staying in the resort I have much spare time. Why not to help someone?

A snowHead

And where are you from @mooney058?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Meeting a random Russian dude off the Web in a semi-lawless police state.

Sounds legit wink

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Any safer doing the same in China, India, Turkey, Canada?

(done all the above, meet in person, not over the net)

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Whitegold, hey, I see your concern and that's the situation I expected. I wrote here that I think that people avoid travelling to Russia. But I'm also sure that a foreigner could fall into an awkward or risky situation in any country especially when one doesn't know how to behave in a particular case. I felt a bit nervous in some european cities with a lot of migrants in the streets at night. And I prefer to ask for advise from any local person when I get into any unusual situation. Many people in EU are responsive and responsible.
Of course, Russia is considered to be "high-risk" place. But it is not actually when you're at civilised cities and places. My message is that when I'll register an acc on Couchsurfing anyone will be free to ask for any help from me in Sochi. Here I just would like to hear any opinions about travelling to this ski resort. I'll move there in the beginning of December.

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@Igor1, A great idea, I like the possibility of skiing different places away from where we can usually access. Unfortunately the visa is a problem as it requires extra effort and most people on here (including me) are hobby skiers so go for the path of least resistance.

There are a few adventurers on here so you should get some interest.

Once the kids are off our hands we have a plan to drive to Australia via places like Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia etc to sample their skiing.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Cool @Gilberts Fridge!

Then do you have any route plan? Where are you going to start from?

As for me Iran is scary Skullie

After all it is free

Help!!

Russian Sochi. What do you think?

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