Gulmarg: The Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering (IISM) celebrated the successful completion of its 2nd snow ski and pilot snowboarding course at Gulmarg, witnessing enthusiastic participation from 82 students hailing from various parts of the country.
The graduation ceremony, held today, was graced by Brig Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM, Deputy Commandant of the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, who presided as the chief guest and honoured the accomplished winners of different skiing events.
Among the dignitaries present was Col IS Thapa, SM, VSM, MID, Principal of IISM, who welcomed Brig Saurabh Singh Shekhawat and provided an overview of the institute’s accomplishments. He highlighted IISM’s status as a premier institute, offering comprehensive facilities to impart high-quality training. Col Thapa emphasized the institute’s popularity, stating that due to its excellent standards, courses are consistently fully booked within minutes, resulting in a high demand that often exceeds the institute’s capacity.
The principal also underlined the multifaceted benefits of ski courses, noting that they not only instil the skill of skiing but also contribute to the overall personality development of the trainees. Additionally, these courses create employment opportunities as students can become guides, instructors, and entrepreneurs.
Brig Saurabh Singh Shekhawat commended the institute for its immense efforts in providing world-class training to students, successfully concluding the ski and snowboarding courses despite limited snowfall and a shortage of suitable slopes. He stressed the importance of such training in the current times, emphasizing that it imparts qualities such as humility, resilience, and perseverance while fostering strong bonds among students.
Highlighting the global issue of climate change, Brig Shekhawat urged the students to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and contribute to environmental conservation efforts. He expressed concern about the impact of global warming on snow availability and encouraged responsible practices to keep the environment free from pollution.
The students, elated after their training, expressed gratitude to the instructors and staff for delivering excellent training. Many of them expressed their eagerness to return, citing the transformative impact of the training not only on their skiing skills but also on their overall lives.
