Ancient fur skis carve a new trail

In the depths of winter, Altay, Tacheng prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, transforms into a snowbound wonderland, with temperatures plunging below minus 20 C.

In a small village, an elderly craftsman continues a tradition that stretches back thousands of years, one that has recently found an unexpected new purpose.

Inside his workshop, Tmurjap Hakanberek, a fourth-generation inheritor of fur ski craftsmanship, shapes wood and binds leather with practiced hands. Each pair of skis leaving his workshop carries the accumulated wisdom of generations who learned to survive and thrive in the harsh, snow-covered landscape.

Altay is widely regarded as one of the birthplaces of human skiing, with cave paintings dating back over 10,000 years depicting ancient hunters on skis. The fur ski crafting technique reflects how nomadic peoples adapted to the extreme cold and deep snow of the Altay Mountains.

Craftsmen begin by selecting resilient pine and birch for the ski's core. The wood is then guided through more than a dozen steps — cutting, soaking, baking to shape the curve, sanding, and polishing. The underside is covered with horse leg hair, arranged in the direction of growth, and bound with cowhide rope. No glue is needed; the finished skis are remarkably sturdy and durable.

The design is simple yet effective. When gliding downhill, the fur lies flat, allowing the skier to move swiftly across the snow. When climbing uphill, the fur grips the surface, preventing the skier from sliding backward.

Tmurjap Hakanberek has been practicing this craft for over five decades. In his lifetime, he has witnessed fur skis undergo a triple transformation: from a practical tool for herders, to a cultural and creative product for tourists, and now to equipment supporting modern public services.

As ice and snow tourism gains popularity across China, visitors flock to the region, eager to experience this ancient form of skiing. But perhaps the most heartwarming chapter of the fur ski story is unfolding in the surrounding mountains.

For Batubylk Wuqyk, a power service technician at the local station of State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power, the ancient tools help him patrol and maintain power lines in mountainous terrain where winter snow can exceed 1 meter in depth. Here vehicles can't navigate and horses struggle to push through.

Recognizing the vital role this ancient craft could play in modern infrastructure maintenance, Tmurjap Hakanberek began customizing fur skis specifically for power line patrol work. He has donated several pairs to the local power supply station. The skis have evolved from cultural heritage items into essential equipment for winter maintenance patrols.

"The fur skis embody the wisdom of our ancestors," he says. "Making them is not only a traditional craft but also an important part of local culture. It reflects the wisdom of living in harmony with nature."