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Skiing in Lebanon has been a popular sport since an engineering student returning from studying in Switzerland brought back with him the sport of skiing to
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...
in the early twentieth century.Anthony, Leslie. White Planet: A Mad Dash Through Modern Global Ski Culture, page 122 Lebanon is home to six developed ski resorts.
Cedars Ski Resort Cedars Ski Resort Bsharri is a ski resort located in the Bsharri mountains of north Lebanon. The natural area known as Cedars of God is nearby. Ariz (or Arz) means cedar in Arabic, and is sometimes used to refer to the area. It is Lebanon's olde ...
Bsharri Bsharri ( ar, بشرّي ''Bšarrī''; syr, ܒܫܪܝ; also Romanized ''Becharre'', ''Bcharre'', ''Bsharre'', (''Bcharre El Arez بشرّي الارز'') is a town at an altitude of about to . It is located in the Bsharri District of the Nort ...
is the oldest and received its first ski lift. Mzaar Ski Resort, Kfardebian, is Lebanon's largest ski resort.


Overview

Lebanon, a mountainous country with summits reaching heights of over 10,000 feet, is sometimes referred to as the "Switzerland of the East". Lebanon is home to six well-maintainedCarter, Dunston, and Humphreys. ''Syria and Lebanon'', page 357
ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In Nort ...
s on the
Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon ( ar, جَبَل لُبْنَان, ''jabal lubnān'', ; syr, ܛܘܪ ܠܒ݂ܢܢ, ', , ''ṭūr lewnōn'' french: Mont Liban) is a mountain range in Lebanon. It averages above in elevation, with its peak at . Geography The Mount Le ...
range that faces the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
. They have a combined 49
ski lift A ski lift is a mechanism for transporting skiers up a hill. Ski lifts are typically a paid service at ski resorts. The first ski lift was built in 1908 by German Robert Winterhalder in Schollach/Eisenbach, Hochschwarzwald. Types * Aerial ...
s with
piste A ''piste'' () is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. This European term is French
s totaling 300 km in length.Lebanese Ministry of Enivornment (2001)
"Lebanon State of the Environment Report 2001 - Tourism and Recreation"
Lebanon's ski resorts are accessible on a day trip with the nearest ski resorts less than an hour's drive from the capital,
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
.Boueri, Boutros, and Sayad. ''Lebanon A to Z: A Middle Eastern Mosaic'', page 57 The sociable Lebanese ensure that the après-ski scene is as memorable as the skiing. A seventh ski field, a steep and rugged one that is suitable for the most intrepid skiers only, is at
Mount Hermon Mount Hermon ( ar, جبل الشيخ or جبل حرمون / ALA-LC: ''Jabal al-Shaykh'' ("Mountain of the Sheikh") or ''Jabal Haramun''; he, הַר חֶרְמוֹן, ''Har Hermon'') is a mountain cluster constituting the southern end of th ...
, but due to the political situation with Israel and Syria, the field has never been developed into a resort. In 2005, plans for a US$1 billion skiing resort, Sannine Zenith, were revealed.


History

Skiing was introduced to
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...
in 1913 when Ramez Ghazzoui, a Lebanese engineer, returned from his studies in
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
and introduced his friends to the sport in the mountains near
Aley Aley ( ar, عاليه) is a major city in Lebanon. It is the capital of the Aley District and fourth largest city in Lebanon. The city is located on Mount Lebanon, 15 km uphill from Beirut on the freeway to Damascus. Aley has the nick ...
in
Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon ( ar, جَبَل لُبْنَان, ''jabal lubnān'', ; syr, ܛܘܪ ܠܒ݂ܢܢ, ', , ''ṭūr lewnōn'' french: Mont Liban) is a mountain range in Lebanon. It averages above in elevation, with its peak at . Geography The Mount Le ...
.William Tracy, ''Saudi Aramco World'', Volume 17, Number 1 (January/February, 1966)
"Ski Lebanon!"
Retrieved July 7, 2008.
Federation Libanaise de Ski
"Histoire"
Retrieved July 7, 2008.
Hiver.com
"Regions/International - Liban"
Retrieved July 7, 2008.
In 1934, ''Le Club Libanais'', the first ski club in Lebanon, was founded by Mauritius Tabet, Mounir Itani, and sisters Andrée Khasho and Aimée Kettaneh. The following year, the French Army established the first ski school at ''Le Grand Cèdre'' hotel at the
Cedars of God The Cedars of God ( ar, أرز الربّ ''Arz al-Rabb'' "Cedars of God"), located in the Kadisha Valley of Bsharre, Lebanon, are one of the last vestiges of the extensive forests of the Lebanon cedar that thrived across Mount Lebanon in antiqu ...
in
Bsharri Bsharri ( ar, بشرّي ''Bšarrī''; syr, ܒܫܪܝ; also Romanized ''Becharre'', ''Bcharre'', ''Bsharre'', (''Bcharre El Arez بشرّي الارز'') is a town at an altitude of about to . It is located in the Bsharri District of the Nort ...
northern Lebanon. In 1937, the school moved to a high mountain barracks, and would later become known as the Military Ski School. By the 1940s, Lebanon had established competitions, clubs, and ski schools throughout the country, and began competing at an international level. James Riddell, the British champion skier who was often called the Father of Modern Ski Journalism, administered in 1942 a ski and mountaineering school for the Australian 9th Army at the
Cedars of God The Cedars of God ( ar, أرز الربّ ''Arz al-Rabb'' "Cedars of God"), located in the Kadisha Valley of Bsharre, Lebanon, are one of the last vestiges of the extensive forests of the Lebanon cedar that thrived across Mount Lebanon in antiqu ...
Bsharri Bsharri ( ar, بشرّي ''Bšarrī''; syr, ܒܫܪܝ; also Romanized ''Becharre'', ''Bcharre'', ''Bsharre'', (''Bcharre El Arez بشرّي الارز'') is a town at an altitude of about to . It is located in the Bsharri District of the Nort ...
. In 1947, Lebanon competed for the first time at the international championship in
Chamonix Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, with Michel Samen carrying the Lebanese flag. One year later, Lebanon competed in the
Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'hiver) is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were h ...
for the first time at the
1948 Winter Olympics The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games (german: V. Olympische Winterspiele; french: Ves Jeux olympiques d'hiver; it, V Giochi olimpici invernali; rm, V Gieus olimpics d'enviern) and commonly known as St. Moritz ...
in St. Moritz,
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. Four athletes competed – Mounir Itani, Jean Samen, Abdelwahab El Rifai and Ibrahim Geagea. In 1959, the resort of Oyoune el Simane known today as
Mzaar Kfardebian Mzaar Kfardebian ( ar, مزار كفردبيان — formerly ''Faraya Mzaar'') is a ski area in Lebanon and the largest ski resort in the Middle East. It is located one hour away from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. It is also referred to as Ou ...
was started 1961 saw the official establishment of the Lebanese Ski Federation under President Pr.
Emile Riachi Emile Riachi (November 2, 1926 – 15 June 2014) was a renowned orthopaedic surgeon in Lebanon. Biography Riachi was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1926. He graduated from the "Faculté Francaise de Médecine" in Beirut in 1950 as MD and then mo ...
. From 1962 until the eruption of the civil war in 1975, a World Cup Competition named “Semaine Internationale du Ski aux Cedres” took place yearly in The Cedars and attracted the world's most prestigious champions In 1967 the 26th annual International Ski Federation (ISF) conference was held in Beirut. Also in 1967 and up until 1972 the federation cooperated with the Lebanese Army to host the World Championship of Military Ski. At the time of its construction in 1974, Faqra Club, which was built at the foot of
Mount Sannine Mount Sannine ( ar, جبل صنين / ALA-LC: ''Jabal Șannīn'') is a mountain in the Mount Lebanon range. Its highest point is 2,628 m (8,622 feet) above sea level in Lebanon. Mount Sannine, which has a base of limestone, is the source of ma ...
with the help of Swiss architects, was one of the premier private skiing resorts in the world.''Le Petit Futé Liban'', page 195 With altitudes ranging between 1700 and 2000 meters, the resort offered a dozen pistes of varying levels that permitted skiers to enjoy the sport day and night. On clear days, one could see the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
and the capital, Beirut, from the summits. In 1993, the Lebanese-American, Richard Elias initiated the International Peace Ski, in which he led a group of thirteen professional skiers from ten different countries to ski in Lebanon. Lebanese skiers have participated in the
Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'hiver) is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were h ...
since 1948 and in World Championships: Innsbruck (1964), Greece (1967), Sapporo (1972), Innsbruck (1976), Grenoble (1969), Lake Placid (1980), Calgary (1988) and Albertville (1992).


Ski resorts

*
Cedars Ski Resort Cedars Ski Resort Bsharri is a ski resort located in the Bsharri mountains of north Lebanon. The natural area known as Cedars of God is nearby. Ariz (or Arz) means cedar in Arabic, and is sometimes used to refer to the area. It is Lebanon's olde ...
*
Faqra Faqra is a ski resort on the outskirts of the Kfardebian village in the Keserwan District in Mount Lebanon, from Beirut and from Jounieh. The resort is located at an altitude ranging from 1500m to 2000m at the foot of Mount Sannine. The reso ...
*
Laqlouq Laqlouq ( ar, لقلوق), also spelled ''Laklouk'' and also known as ′Arab Laqlouq ( ar, عرب القلوق) is a small mountainous village in mountainous area in the Byblos District of Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate, Lebanon. It is located 69 kilo ...
also written Laklouk * Mzaar *
Qanat Bakish A qanat or kārīz is a system for transporting water from an aquifer or water well to the surface, through an underground aqueduct; the system originated approximately 3,000 BC in what is now Iran. The function is essentially the same across ...
*
Zaarour Zaarour (Arabic: زعرور ; Syriac: ܥܙܪܪܬܐ ) is a ski resort on the eastern slopes of Mount Sannine in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon Governorate, only 35 km from Beirut. The resort lies north of the mountain village of Mrouj. The n ...


Season

The ski season, which is similar to the
Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
, typically runs from mid-December to April, depending on the length and depth of snowfall.Frank Coles, guardian.co.uk (March 30, 2006)
"Secret skiing"
Retrieved July 9, 2008
In spring, it is sometimes possible to snow ski in the morning and drive to the coast in the afternoon to water ski.Aikman, David. ''The Mirage of Peace: Understanding the Never-Ending Conflict in the Middle East'', page 48


See also

* Lebanon at the 2010 Winter Olympics *
Sport in Lebanon Because of Lebanon's unique geography, both summer and winter sports thrive in the country. In fact, during autumn and spring it is sometimes possible to engage in both activities on the same day; for example, skiing in the morning and swimming ...
*
Cedars of God The Cedars of God ( ar, أرز الربّ ''Arz al-Rabb'' "Cedars of God"), located in the Kadisha Valley of Bsharre, Lebanon, are one of the last vestiges of the extensive forests of the Lebanon cedar that thrived across Mount Lebanon in antiqu ...
*
Mzaar Kfardebian Mzaar Kfardebian ( ar, مزار كفردبيان — formerly ''Faraya Mzaar'') is a ski area in Lebanon and the largest ski resort in the Middle East. It is located one hour away from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. It is also referred to as Ou ...


References


External links

* {{cite web , url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csx8wr , title= Skiing Mount Lebanon , last= Sharro , first= Karl , date= 2018-03-31 , website= BBC World Service , publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation , access-date= , quote= audio: 27 min.
Official site of the Lebanese Ski Federation

Skiing in Lebanon
guide
skiing service provider in lebanon
Sport in Lebanon