In the Irkutsk region, Russia Ski Track 2015 began, bringing together participants of all ages from children to sports veterans. Winners were decided in the 5 and 10 km races, and in the VIP race over 2015 meters, the head of the Federal Tax Service for the Irkutsk region took first place. A special pride for the region was the victory of Angarsk resident Nadezhda Shunyaeva at the main stage of the competition.

The all-Russian ski race “Russia’s Ski Track-2015” began on February 8 at 12:00; the competitions were held at the ski base of the Irkutsk State Agrarian University (ISKhI) in the settlement of Molodezhny.
The race also included the Minister for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy Pavel Nikitin, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Irkutsk Region Vladimir Dorofeev, and the head of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the Irkutsk Region Konstantin Zaitsev. At the ceremonial opening of the event, the right to raise the flag of the Russian Federation was granted to Candidate for Master of Sports, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, multiple winner of ski races among sports veterans Konstantin Poznyansky.
Russia’s Ski Track brought together many participants of different age groups; the most experienced participants were Konstantin Poznyansky (88 years old) and Elvira Krytsyna (78 years old). The youngest participants in the competition were Konstantin Lubyagin (2.5 years old) and Valeria Danilchuk (3 years old). A special prize within the competition was awarded to the Kirgizov family, which became the most numerous in “Russia’s Ski Track”; it fielded 17 participants.
According to the results of the 10 km race among men, Denis Selyankin finished first, Leonid Khokhryakov second, and Albert Fedin completed the distance third. In the same race among women, first place was won by Ekaterina Terentyeva, Ekaterina Kochneva finished second, and Elizaveta Tyurina finished third.
Based on the results of the 5 km race among boys, Konstantin Gavryushkin took first place. Vladimir Vorunov came second at this distance, and Yuri Kasev took third place. Among the girls, Anna Kuznetsova finished first, Darya Duplyanko second, and Anastasia Serenko rounded out the top three. The winners received cups, medals, and diplomas from the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation.
After that, the now traditional VIP race took place, dedicated to the anniversary of the Sochi Olympic Games, which this year was 2015 m. The winner of the VIP race was the head of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the Irkutsk Region. Second place went to a representative of the regional Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy, Andrey Mesenko. Journalist Vladislav Kostin finished third in the VIP distance.
- Athletes who traditionally take the start have achieved high results. But the most important thing is not the seconds shown, but the number of people willing to take part in the mass race, - said Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Angara Region Vladimir Dorofeev.
Safety along all distances provided for by “Russia’s Ski Track 2015” was monitored by employees of the regional Emergency Rescue Service and staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Rescuers were on duty on Buran snowmobiles, the hovercraft “Khivus,” and the airboat “Piranha.”
Police officers and traffic police inspectors also ensured law and order and the safety of participants in the ice race.
The all-Russian ski race “Russia’s Ski Track-2015” took place in 71 regions of the country. A record number of participants was registered in it - about 1.5 million people.
As a reason for pride, it should be emphasized that at the central stage of Russia’s Ski Track, in the 10-kilometer distance, the winner among women was our fellow countrywoman, Angarsk native Nadezhda Shunyaeva.
Based on materials from the press service of the Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region.