Ex-KGB member and recently elected Russian president,
Vladimir Putin was recently spotted on the slopes
at Krasnaya Polyana in the Caucasus Mountains.
Party
members looking to gain influence described Mr Putin
as 'a dedicated and accomplished skier' during his
visit in the traditional Russian early May vacation.
Putin apparently went heli-skiing, taking on a vertical
descent of more than 2000m.
Krasnaya
Polyana has a reputation for a long season and good
snow conditions thanks to regular heavy snowfalls.
Indeed rumours exist that snow depths can reach 7
metres, which would be as impressive as Stalin's crop
yields.
The
area is still developing however. A reason that the
resort lost out to Park City, Utah to stage the 2002
Winter Olympics.
The
Caucasus include Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak
where winter sports continue year round, as long as
enough skiers and boarders turn up to make it worthwhile
running the lifts.
