Hundreds of brave Russians hit ski slopes in bikinis and underwear for annual BoogelWoogel carnival 

Snow risk of being cold? Hundreds of brave Russians hit ski slopes in bikinis and underwear for annual BoogelWoogel carnival

  • Hundreds brave freezing temperatures to hit the slopes at the BoogelWoogel alpine festival in Sochi, Russia 
  • The annual event, which takes place at Rosa Khutor resort, started on Wednesday and will run until Sunday
  • Despite the 9 C temperatures, snow sports enthusiasts ski and snowboard in bikinis and swimming shorts  

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Hundreds of brave snow sports enthusiasts took to the slopes in bikinis and swimming trunks for the annual BoogelWoogel alpine festival in Sochi, Russia.

Participants spent the week taking part in the festival while braving the 9 C temperatures and wearing almost nothing in the snow.  

The annual event, which takes place at the Rosa Khutor resort, started on Wednesday and will run until Sunday.  

Most revellers took to the slopes in swimming suits, shorts and bikinis without a mask in sight during the Covid pandemic.    

Such festivals have become popular at Russia’s burgeoning ski resorts to mark the end of the winter season.

Scantily clad skiers sport bikinis and shorts as they take to the slopes at the BoogelWoogel alpine festival in Sochi, Russia

Coordinated: Skiers and snowboarders braved the 9 C temperatures and wore almost nothing while attending the annual festival

Coordinated: Skiers and snowboarders braved the 9 C temperatures and wore almost nothing while attending the annual festival 

The annual event, which takes place at the Rosa Khutor resort, was enjoyed by all ages as everyone stripped off to join the fun

The annual event, which takes place at the Rosa Khutor resort, was enjoyed by all ages as everyone stripped off to join the fun

The annual festival started on Wednesday and will run until Sunday with revellers turning out in their hundreds

The annual festival started on Wednesday and will run until Sunday with revellers turning out in their hundreds 

Now in its sixth year, BoogelWoogel made international headlines in 2018 when nearly 2,000 skiers broke the Guinness world record for the world’s largest downhill ski in swimsuits. 

Some 30,000 were believed to have visited the resort for the four day festival in 2019, and revellers followed an orchestra on skis and snowboards as they descended to musical accompaniment.

‘We saw the real celebration of courage, winter resistance and crankiness, this was a surprise even for organisers,’ said Nikita Girin, the man behind annual BoogelWoogel carnival.

‘Neither snow, nor rain, nor frost can stop us.’

Most revellers took to the slopes in swimming suits, shorts and bikinis without a mask in sight during the Covid pandemic

Most revellers took to the slopes in swimming suits, shorts and bikinis without a mask in sight during the Covid pandemic

A young skier makes their way down the mountain in a colourful unicorn onesie while the adults bore all in swimming attire

A young skier makes their way down the mountain in a colourful unicorn onesie while the adults bore all in swimming attire 

Chilling out! One reveller lounged on the freezing ground and lay against his snowboard while enjoying the festival

Chilling out! One reveller lounged on the freezing ground and lay against his snowboard while enjoying the festival

Snow sports enthusiasts put on a colourful display as they headed down the mountain, which faces competition from Siberia's top resort - Sheregesh in Kemerovo region

Snow sports enthusiasts put on a colourful display as they headed down the mountain, which faces competition from Siberia’s top resort – Sheregesh in Kemerovo region

The 52-strong Alpine Orchestra was led by The Hatters band.  

Sochi faces competition from Siberia’s top resort – Sheregesh in Kemerovo region – which annually stages a similar event attracting participants from all over the world.

In 2017, Sheregesh resort attempted to beat the record set in Sochi and entered the Russian Book of Records with 1498 skiers and snowboarders,  but didn’t provide enough evidence to get an official ruling from Guinness. 

Other events at the festival included  skijumping into a swimming pool, a festival of colours celebration alike to Holi, and live music. 

Great spirits! One man beams for the camera while holding plants as he whizzes down the slopes in unusual gold attire

Great spirits! One man beams for the camera while holding plants as he whizzes down the slopes in unusual gold attire 

Festivals like BoogelWoogel have become popular at Russia's burgeoning ski resorts to mark the end of the winter season, as one girl films her descent down the mountain in a swimsuit

Festivals like BoogelWoogel have become popular at Russia’s burgeoning ski resorts to mark the end of the winter season, as one girl films her descent down the mountain in a swimsuit 

Wrapping up: Three girls make their way up the mountain and wrap up with dressing gowns after enjoying the slopes

Wrapping up: Three girls make their way up the mountain and wrap up with dressing gowns after enjoying the slopes 

BoogelWoogel made international headlines in 2018 when nearly 2,000 skiers broke the Guinness world record for the world’s largest downhill ski in swimsuits

BoogelWoogel made international headlines in 2018 when nearly 2,000 skiers broke the Guinness world record for the world’s largest downhill ski in swimsuits