The Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports Sonamarg is currently conducting basic and special skiing courses, attracting participants from Jammu & Kashmir and various parts of the country who are eager to learn winter sports and explore adventure activities in the region. Several participants shared their experiences, noting that the 10–14-day courses are designed to train beginners in fundamental techniques of skiing, including sliding, gliding, snow plow, stem turn, and balance control. Many students said it was their first time experiencing snow and learning to ski under professional guidance. A participant from J&K said she joined the special skiing course to pursue her passion for adventure sports. “It is a completely new experience. We get to learn proper skiing techniques, which we never get locally. Thanks to NCC for giving us this opportunity without any cost,” she said. Principal of JIM&WS, Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, told that the institute has been conducting mountaineering and skiing courses since 1983. “Earlier, the courses were conducted only in Gulmarg, but since 2022, we have been running them in Sonamarg as well,” he said. The Principal said 120 students are currently enrolled in the basic skiing course, including 40 NCC cadets, while the rest are from various Indian states. “Many students have never seen snow before. We start by teaching them how to stand, move, and descend on skis. After the basic course, students can join intermediate and advanced levels,” he said. Col Singh added that the courses will continue in future under central government guidelines, and more advanced modules will be introduced as Sonamarg’s winter sports potential grows. The ongoing training at the Sonamarg Transit Camp has received positive feedback from participants, who say the experience has boosted their confidence and opened doors to winter adventure sports.