The first in Bulgaria Snowboard Park will be officially opened in the village of Momchilovtsi in December 2003. The Englishman Peter High is the chief investor for the construction of the Winter Sports Centre in that Rhodope Mountain village. The Englishman?s ambition is to create a snowboard park that meets the European standards. Last year was the trial of the first facilities. The investment so far is about 18 000 leva. The winter sports complex is located 9 km away from Momchilovtsi and 15 km from Pamporovo ? near the Rozhen Astronomy Observatory. The snowboard park stands at an altitude of 1750 m.
Next season will offer considerably better conditions for snowboard lovers, is the opinion of the local Tourism and Mountain Sorts Centre. Peter is an ex professional rugby player. He fell for snowboarding during his vacation in Pamporovo, when he got in the snowboarding class of Bogdan Kassabov from Momchilovtsi. The snowboard instructor invited the Englishman to his home village, and that was how he fell in love with that unique place in the Rhodope Mountains? He visited Bulgaria every 2-3 months. His future plans are to buy a house and after retiring to settle in the Rhodopes for good.
The snowboard runs are combined with a ski run and a rope-line, supplied by the mayor?s office. There will be more rope-lines installed to facilitate the skiers and the snowboarders?