The 26th Sakhalin Ski Marathon in Memory of I. P. Farkhutdinov gathered around 2,000 athletes from 56 regions of Russia and 219 cities on the tracks of the region. The competition was dynamic and spectacular – throughout the entire race, athletes demonstrated outstanding performances, with the fate of the medals being decided in the final metres of the course. The TV BRICS International Media Network served as the international information partner of the event.

This marathon is unique due to its point-to-point route rather than a circular track, which is a rarity in Russian races. Participants were able to enjoy views of snow-covered hills and coniferous forests, while the most scenic section – a 10 km stretch – ran along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

The mascot of the marathon was Zim Zimych the Bear, who was present at both the start and finish, creating a festive atmosphere. The name was chosen by Sakhalin residents through a public vote, with around 3,000 people taking part.

On the first day of racing, in the 50 km freestyle event, the first to cross the finish line were 2018 Olympic bronze medallist Anastasiya Kuleshova from the Nizhny Novgorod region and Ruslan Ablyazisov from the Perm Krai. Ablyazisov noted that success largely depended on well-prepared skis.

In the 30 km race, the winners were Stanislav Volzhentsev and Anastasiya Vlasova from the Komi Republic.

“In Sweden, I skied 90 km in 3 hours 30 minutes, but here I ran 50 km in 3 hours. […] The weather had its impact. There was a lot of snow on the pass. I will need at least three days to recover,” Vlasova shared.

At the award ceremony, the Governor of the Sakhalin Region, Valery Limarenko, addressed the audience. He tasked the regional Ministry of Sport with considering the possibility of holding international cross-country skiing competitions on Sakhalin in 2026, inviting skiers from Asia-Pacific countries (APAC).

“Everything is being done on Sakhalin to develop sports. The conditions here are as comfortable as possible for athletes – accommodation, travel, and track preparation. We have discussed the idea of hosting a world-class international event here, one that will be exciting and bring together the best ski athletes,” the governor said before presenting the awards.

On the second day of competition, skiers competed in the classic style. In the 30 km race, Ablyazisov once again claimed victory among men, while among women, Darya Semiletenko from Moscow crossed the finish line first, ahead of her Sakhalin rivals. In the longest race – 50 km, the previous day’s champions, Volzhentsev and Vlasova, once again took first place. Vlasova noted that the track was challenging, and weather conditions made the race even tougher.

Mikhail Shamsutdinov, Director of the Sakhalin Ski Marathon, also took part in the race.

“After three years I am back again as a participant of the Sakhalin Ski Marathon. For me it’s really an outlet, because due to organisational issues it’s difficult to run by myself. […] For the first time I am running this 30-kilometre distance only on my hands, double-pooling. For me it’s a kind of test,” he said.

A special programme was also arranged for children and teenagers. Boys and girls aged 6–12 participated in a 1 km classic race, while 13–16-year-olds competed in a 5 km freestyle event. Very young skiers had the chance to take part in the “Baby Marathon”, covering a 300-metre course. A separate 1 km race was also organised for participants with disabilities.

The Sakhalin Ski Marathon has been held since 1987. The goal of this sporting event is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, strengthen international cooperation, and popularise cross-country skiing in Russia and APAC countries.

Photo: TV BRICS