Winter Festivals

We offer for your attention a review of the sporting and musical events that open the new year 2009. Sochi, the Austrian Sölden, Yekaterinburg, Magnitogorsk, Sydney or Egypt - the choice of a place for active entertainment is yours...

From 20 to 25 January in Krasnaya Polyana the Russian leg of the Freeride World Championship will take place - snowboarding and alpine skiing down unspoilt mountain slopes. The total prize fund for the whole tour amounts to 250 thousand dollars. Representatives of Russia, Sweden, France, Norway, the USA, Austria, Argentina, Switzerland and Finland will take part in the competition. On 24 January in Sochi the official Nissan Russian Adventure party will be held, organised by the championship's media partner - the magazine Best Life. Appearing as guest stars will be the DJs Denis Simachev (Dj Loser) and Maria Pirumova (Dj Sister) from Low Budget Family. Help in arranging spectator tours to Krasnaya Polyana is provided by the travel company "Vertical World".

The project "Russians in Austria" is the most wintry youth festival, which will take place in the last week of January at one of Austria's best ski resorts - Sölden. You'll have plenty to keep you busy: snowboarding and alpine skiing, competitions, bathing in thermal pools, parties on the mountain and in the clubs, fireworks. Here's what the organisers write about their project: "'Russians in Austria' is not only sport, it's music, it's a snowy flirtation, and of course a charge of positive energy that will last through the long winter months!" Performing at the festival will be: Dj Abelle&Beekeeper, Dj Sanches, Dj Causelove. You can look over the various tour packages on the project's official website→. The cost of the trip - from 900 euros.

In 2009 the renowned sporting festival BGV ("Big Races of the magazine 'Choose the Temptations of the Big City'") will be divided into two parts: BGV Russian Open and BGV Fest. The first part will take place on 24 January in Yekaterinburg. Anyone who has reached the age of 14 will be able to take part in this festival. The total prize fund is $10,000. The entertainment part of the festival means unusual performances, appearances by the best DJs and MCs, non-stop music, a big traditional bonfire, contests for children and adults, and fireworks. In the evening the bands The Inspector Cluzo, Kirpichi and EK playaz will perform. There will also be a pre- and afterparty. Admission to the event is free.

By the decision of the World Independent Pro-Riders Association (Ticket To Ride) in union with the World Snowboard Federation, in May 2008 the Russian sporting event BGV received 4 stars! The titled three-day festival kicks off on 30 January in Magnitogorsk. Only invited riders and wildcard holders (the winners of the BGV Russian Open) will be able to take part in it. All the slopes, except the one on which the snow park will be erected, will operate as normal. Russian folk festivities, games, contests, music - you certainly won't get bored here. Performing at the festival will be such bands as: Drugly Cats (Russia), MONTREAL (Germany), "Kasta". Detailed information about travel and accommodation can be found on the festival's website.

If by February you've already grown tired of snow and feel like visiting warmer climes, then the three-day music festival-campsite Playground Weekender will be waiting for you. It will take place on a riverbank in the picturesque outskirts of Sydney. On the festival grounds there will be a tent town, a golf course, a tennis court, a volleyball court, a swimming pool and much more. The list of announced artists is impressive, here are some of them: Primal Scream, The Streets, Jose Gonzalez, Cold War Kids, Crystal Castles, Yes King, Tom Middleton, Watussi, Paper Scissors, Russ Dewbury, Norman Jay, Ewan Pearson, Todd Terje, Jimpster, Nic Fanciulli. You can find out about ticket prices here→.

At the end of February, for those who want to make summer in the middle of winter, the 8th annual festival "Russian Wave" will take place on one of Egypt's best beaches. The core of the festival will be competitions in windsurfing, kitesurfing and wakeboarding. If you don't know how to stay on a wave but want to learn, the free windsurfing school Ibi&Friends will be open for you. Every day, from morning until late at night, DJs will perform at all the venues: Pyotr Levinsky, Lady B, Dan, Kozloff, as well as the bands "Underground Sound of Moscow", "Flora" and "Moralny Kodeks". The main event of the project will be the arrival of the world star Dj Steve Lawler (England). About the cost of the tours, as well as where to place an order, you can find out here→.