Plush posterior pad provides a sense of fun

SHIJIAZHUANG－Adorable protection gear is seeing widespread popularity among amateur skiers. These hip protectors, resembling soft toys, are seen everywhere in the Qishan ski resort in Laiyuan county, North China's Hebei province.

Available in the shapes of tortoises or polar bears, the hip guard has been deemed important protection equipment for novice skiers.

"Falling is inevitable for novice skiers, so it's important to wear necessary protective gear for safety," says Zhao Zhankun, general manager of the resort.

Developed by Chinese manufacturers, the hip protector has gained more attraction compared with traditional protective gear, not only because of their adorable design, but also because it can cushion impact during a fall.

"Fearful of falling as a beginner, I spent about 100 yuan ($15.72) at the resort to purchase the protector," says Zhang Zhiyao, a 26-year-old resident from the province's Baoding city.

He adds that he bought the protective gear after he saw people wearing it on Douyin, a popular short-video app in China.

"Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort sees around 5,000 to 6,000 skiers every day during peak times," says Zhao. Boasting 13 ski trails, the resort is a large venue to the southwest of Beijing.

Winter sports have gained momentum in China after the country set a goal in 2015 of engaging 300 million people in such sporting activities. Since then, over 346 million Chinese people have participated in winter sports, making the goal a reality, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Winter sports-related industries are also prospering. "The orders for these protectors have continued to surge since November," says Wang Yang, owner of a gift factory in Hebei.

The sales of hip protectors manufactured by Wang's factory increased by more than 30 percent year-on-year since 2019 after he signed cooperation agreements with a dozen ski resorts in or around Beijing. Last year, his factory produced over 1.3 million such protectors.

Xinhua