Winter Fest featuring Alexei Yagudin and Sergei Gimayev will take place in Muravlenko

21 december 2021

On December 25 and 26, 2021 Muravlenko’s Avangard sports arena will become the venue of the annual Winter Fest winter sports festival. By virtue of taking place so close to the New Year' s Eve, this event will take on an even more festive air! The greatest gift for all participants aged 6 to 16 will be master classes on the ice given by the nation’s legendary athletes. This will be equally fun and useful both for the beginners and for those who are already fairly proficient in ice hockey or figure skating.

Alexei Yagudin, an Honored Master of Sports of Russia, 2002 Olympic Champion, a multiple world and European champion, winner of Russia’s national championships, a TV host and a participant of several Channel One TV shows will give a master class called "Figure Skating Secrets".

Having been working with children for years, I have observed that the most important thing one can do is to start them up like you would start a car, and then they will run on their own. It's important to inspire children, to ignite a spark in their eyes and give them faith in themselves and their abilities, Alexey Yagudin commented.

Another master class, Real Hockey, will be led by Sergey Gimayev, the winner of the 2006 European Champions’ Cup, silver medalist in Russia’s 2003 Championship, a bronze medal winner in 2014/2015 KHL Championship, and a pundit for Match TV and KHL TV channels. Gimayev is convinced that one’s success in sports is predetermined in their childhood, thanks to the guidance of a wise and experienced mentor:

I was only four years old when I was first taken to a hockey game. I was taking my first steps on the ice by skating along the ice rink’s boards, same as all the other kids did. And so, it was thanks to my competent coaches and their strong support that I was able to make a difference. Now I want to give the same support to the new generation of players! Gimayev noted.

Alexei and Sergey had already held master classes in early December as part of the Winter Fest in Tomsk. These were attended by close to 400 children. The star athletes spent time with every child making sure that they can pass on as much knowledge as possible and teach them valuable new skills.

After the master classes, their attendees will receive personalized certificates and photos, on top of having a chance to talk to the athletes, ask them questions, take selfies with them, and get their autographs.

The festival is part of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program running under the slogan of "More Movement Means More Victories.

For obvious reasons, the northernmost cities where SIBUR's enterprises operate are quite removed from major hockey and figure skating centers. Consequently, it is not easy for our children to see with their own eyes the real stars of these sports and to get exposed to the most advanced sports techniques that are perfected every year. That's why the Winter Fest festival and such visits by world-class athletes to Muravlenko make this a real winter festival and a huge window of opportunity for our children. They will hear firsthand what it means to be a real athlete and a professional. Each such visit brings us closer to the moment when today's children will be standing on the sports podium proudly representing their northern homeland, Sergey Vinokhodov, Advisor to General Director of JSC SiburTyumenGaz, commented.

Advisory: Keep in mind that admission to the event will only be provided to bearers of a valid QR-code (for persons over 18 years). Please be sure to wear a mask.


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The Winter Fest festival has been held since 2015 in the cities of Tobolsk, Dzerzhinsk, Nizhnevartovsk, Tomsk, Perm, Noyabrsk, Kstovo, Blagoveshchensk, and others. Over 13,500 children have taken part in the master classes led by star athletes, legends of sports, and Olympic champions.

The festival has featured the likes of Ilya Averbukh, Alexey Yagudin, Maksim Marinin, Fedor Kanareykin, Alexander Guskov, Sergey Gimyaev, Maria Butyrskaya, Dmitry Ryabykin, Andrey Nikolishin, Sergey Shepelev, Elena Berezhnaya, and others. Further details about the event can be found on our group’s page at vk.com/winter__fest