action
Lebanon is stunning at first sight. Nightclubs, expensive cars and churches alongside mosques, modern architecture and feisty women. And a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere
Józek Gąsienica Gładczan, speedrider
L
ebanon is not likely to be high on your list of dream snowboarding destinations. But when Józek Gąsienica Gładczan and I, together with our good buddy photographer Marcin Kin, hit on the idea a year ago of scouting exotic locations in Lebanon, we were met with uncomprehending shakes of the head all round. “Are there even mountains there? Is there snow? Isn’t there a war on?” These, and many similar, were typical responses, so after repeated attempts to convince everyone that Lebanon had actual powder on real mountains, we give up talking about it. We decide
to fly there, experience it for ourselves and then we’d finally know the facts. Our plan is a long time taking shape. We wanted to broaden the horizons for our passion at whatever price, shooting freeride photos on unusual tracks, enjoying extraordinary powder and showing locals something new – speedriding – a mix of paragliding and skiing with long jumps and take-offs on the track. I’m the freerider in our team and Józek is the speedrider. Marcin will do pics. Our adventures begin somewhat earlier than planned, however. There had been peace in Lebanon for some time, but events take a dramatic turn just as we board our plane in Warsaw. 59