“We arrived in Canada on March 24th, 1992. At that time, the very first investment my father made was a pair of cross-country skis for every member of our family.

Back in the Soviet Union, cross-country skiing was a central part of the Russian culture; a sport continuously transmitted to the next generation. It was more than a simple training activity; it was part of the gym class program of high-school students. It was the reason Muscovites escaped to their cottages in winter time, and mainly, it was a perceptual remedy for the survival of a harsh Russian winter.

I find it difficult to find a comparable sensation than the one of gliding through a forest to the sound of crisp snow and the smell of pine trees. There is something quite unique in feeling invigorated by the freshness of cold air.

My father is an avid cross-country skier who was able to share his love for an essential sport with the rest of our family. Nowadays, no matter the cold in the wintertime, every single weekend, at least one of us is striding on the Mount Royal trails.”

Category: People