Saratov University paid farewell to winter with ski race “University Snowflake” on March, 6. The competition finished the “Health Spartakiade” among teachers. It was also another stage in the SSU Rector Cup for students.
Traditionally, the event started with a forming-up conducted by the chief referee of the competition, Department of Sport Disciplines Chair V.N. Mishagin. He welcomed the sportsmen and told important information: distance, start time and route for different categories of competitors.
Sport Club Head V.D. Gordeev congratulated the participants on the health holiday and wished them to have a great time: “I hope the skiers today will get healthier and receive lots of positive emotions. Good luck to all of you! Let the best win!”
On behalf of University administration, Vice-rector for secondary professional education and social work O.E. Nesterova welcomed the sportsmen. “I think you are the strongest people who believe in themselves and in victory”, she said. “I hope the weather will help the best win and make this holiday enjoyable”.
Because of weather conditions the competition took place at the upper part of Kumisnaya polyana. Getting there from the University ski resort the participants warmed up a bit.
This year the skiing distance was 3km for men and 2km for women. Men started first, then – women. Students started after a short break.
Among men teachers the first was an assistant of the Department of Computer Security and Cryptography Theory N.N. Bondarev (10.02). Professor of the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Ecology S.N. Shtykov showed good results coming second (10.32). Third place went to Professor of the Department of Radiophysics and Nonlinear Dynamics D.E. Postnov (11.38). Mass start winner was chosen according to the results and age factor.
Among women the winner was Associate Professor of the Department of Geophysics K.B. Sokulina (11.58) who got the bronze medal last year. The second place went to engineer of the Department of Meteorology and Climatology E.V. Demidova (13.10). Senior programmer of Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics Dean’s Office Yu.V. Lysunkina came third (13.55).
Regardless of the results, the participants were happy about their personal achievements at the finish. For some better time was a success, other were happy to ski for the first time this year. E.V. Demidova was delighted. She shared that last year she came forth and was very proud of it. “I live close to the forest and go skiing in winter just for the pleasure of it. I’ve never been a sportsperson. At the start I thought only about completing my own program. I don’t know what happened. The snow was mine, the ski track was mine!”
In student relay among women the winner was Faculty of Physics student Larisa Zhestkova (9.38), Faculty of Geography student Ulyana Sukholovskaia came second (10.41), Faculty of Biology student Alina Balykova came third (13.19).
Among men students the first place went to Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technologies student Ildar Svetlov (12.44). Faculty of Nano- and Biomedical Technologies student Aleksey Kliukin was second (13.33), Institute of Chemistry student Evgenii Filatov won the third place (13.47).
Participating students are mostly involved in other sports; ski relay was a great training session for them. For example, Aleksey Kliukin is a footballer. “I often go to training camps and I rarely go to the forest. Because of football I have a good stamina; and the race was easy for me. I also had a chance to check my strength”, said the sportsman.
To determine the winners of team placing, the referees summed the best results. Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technologies teachers’ team won gold, Institute of Chemistry team won the second place, Faculty of Physics team showed the third result.
At the SSU Rector Cup among students, Faculty of Nano- and Biomedical Technologies team became winners. The second place went to Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics. Faculty of Law students came third.
At the end of the competition, the participants enjoyed hot drinks and deserts.
This was not the end of winter farewell in SSU. On Sunday, 13th of March the University hosts Great Maslenitsa Festival at the Students Square at 10:30. There will be pancakes, a concert and other entertainments.
