Asia's newest sport - yak skiing

BBC News ^ | Sunday, 3 July, 2005 | not attributed

[stylin_geek]

The American magazine Time has recommended the little-known sport of yak skiing in India as one of the 10 best ways in Asia to relax the mind.

The magazine's Asian edition says this "implausible extreme sport" involves going at rocket speed uphill attached by rope to a yak charging downhill.

The skier attracts the yak from up high by shaking a bucket of nuts, which must be put down fast before the fun begins.

"The sport may be a barmy injunction to even barmier tourists," Time says.

Nervous wait

According to the article, yak skiing is carried out in the Indian hill resort of Manali, where it is run by a Tibetan man, Peter Dorje.

It says that in winter, he takes up to five skiers and his herd of yaks to the hills above town, making an overnight camp.

"Never shake the bucket of nuts before you're tied to the yak rope.".. Peter Dorje

In the morning, Mr Dorje heads to a high slope with his beasts, trailing out a rope behind him.

The yak skier waits nervously below, wearing skis and holding a bucket of pony nuts.

When Mr Dorje reaches the top, he ties a large pulley to a tree, loops the rope through it and attaches the cord to a stamping, snorting yak.

Then it is all down to the skier, who is tied to the other end of the rope.

[stylin_geek]

I'm waiting to see if Senator Kerry is photographed doing this.

[Millee]

"Never shake the bucket of nuts before you're tied to the yak rope."..

I didn't realize a bucket of nuts would make that much noise. Hhmm who knew????

[BenLurkin]

[NormsRevenge]

If the rope breaks, what do ya get?


A loud shout of ...

Yak off!!

[NormsRevenge]

and then it's every man for himself. :)

[frankjr]

[My2Cents]

Sure to be covered on ESPN8, "The Ocho".

[cripplecreek]

"Never shake the bucket of nuts before you're tied to the yak rope."


That's good advice in just about any situation.

[andy58-in-nh]

Catch a Yak and you're sittin' on top of the world.

[stylin_geek]

I think a Yak's natural habitat is the top of the world.

[watchin]

This reminds me of the old story about the guy trying to lower a barrel of bricks with a rope and pulley.

What happens when you meet the yak on the way up?

[pipecorp]

"when i was in the nam we used to ski up hill both ways tied to a water buffalo with just our dental floss, in the middle of winter becuase dick nixon ordered us into cambodiathailandlaoskampuchia-ville.to rape and pillage in the manner of ghengis heinz.. er um khan. "

[andy58-in-nh]

I think a Yak's natural habitat is the top of the world.

Exactly my thought: Cow-abunga, dude!

[RandallFlagg]

"Tradin' in a Chevy for a smelly yak-yak-yak-yak---"

[andy58-in-nh]

At ease, Lieutenant Kerry.

[UnklGene]

[Mad Dawgg]

""The skier attracts the yak from up high by shaking a bucket of nuts, which must be put down fast before the fun begins..."

This thread is gonna be a classic!

[pipecorp]

Is there a reason for taking the nuts out of the bag?

[sassbox]

somehow I know there's a Hillary joke to be found in here

[andy58-in-nh]

"Tradin' in a Chevy for a smelly yak-yak-yak-yak---"

Elton? Is that you? I knew you were into kinky stuff, but yak surfing?