Russia Hosts Bone-Chilling Ice Marathon on Lake Baikal
Russia staged its annual Ice Storm ice racing competition on Lake Baikal on Feb. 14-16.
According to event’s organizers, the race was created “to understand the atmosphere of endless ice fields extending beyond the horizon and to feel the power of the planet’s largest open ice rink called Baikal.”
About 50 extreme sporting lovers from around the world took part in this year’s three-day marathon, covering 205 kilometers of limitless expanses of ice on nordic skates, skis and bikes.
Here's a look at the frozen marathon in all its splendor:
According to event’s organizers, the race was created “to understand the atmosphere of endless ice fields extending beyond the horizon and to feel the power of the planet’s largest open ice rink called Baikal.”
About 50 extreme sporting lovers from around the world took part in this year’s three-day marathon, covering 205 kilometers of limitless expanses of ice on nordic skates, skis and bikes.
Here's a look at the frozen marathon in all its splendor:
The Ice Storm race has taken place annually for the past eight years.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
It has three stages and stretches across a 205-kilometer distance.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
People come to Lake Baikal from all around Russia and other countries including the U.S., Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland to overcome the often-unpredictable cold, wind and ice.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
According to the event's official website, the temperature was minus 30 degrees Celsius.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
During the competition, participants were accompanied by event organizers and Emergency Situations Ministry staff on hovercrafts.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
But all the difficulties, including the freezing cold, don't seem so insurmountable when you're surrounded by Baikal's unforgettable winter landscapes.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
With a little bit of positive thinking, it can even be a nice place to get a tan!
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
“This is perhaps one of the most extreme marathons on the planet, and that’s what makes it interesting,” the organizers say.
Vera Salnitskaya / ice-storm.com
