Jan Sallawitz

We stand in the immigration queue in front of a veiled customs officer and don't know what to expect. And there's something else that's making our foreheads sweat: Our guest gift is gurgling in one of the travel bags – and alcohol is banned under penalty of law in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Why didn't we think of this earlier? Images of stonings and floggings flash through my mind as I slowly make my way towards passport control. The customs officer gives me a friendly wink: "Welcome to Iran." That's it.

There aren't that many people mountain biking here, but the few who are active are very ambitious and know exactly what we are looking for. They give us the tip to try the "Tai Lam Country Park", which covers the hilly area northwest of Kowloon. Here we find jungle biking at its best. Well-signposted single trails lead us up and down between the giant jungle trees.

Still high above the city, we lie on a rocky plateau in the sun and grin like crazy. What a country, what a descent! The ground becomes darker and sandier, and many sections are now paved with steps and walls. We seem to be approaching the urban area again. But the altimeter still shows 2500 meters.
Whenever we think that the city finally begins around the next bend, the path becomes wilder and more technical again. At least we meet people again who greet us with a big "hello" and insist on a souvenir photo together. We don't actually reach the bottom until early evening. The brakes are smoking and everyone is tired – but happy and enriched by a first-class descent.

The 80 women start first. The fastest is the Swiss Katrin Kellenberger (CH) ahead of Regina Lind (AT) and Heidi Gunesch (DE). Kati has already stood on the LBC podium several times and is super-happy to finally be on top at the 10th anniversary and take the title home to Zurich. After the ladies, it's the turn of the old-schoolers.

You'd have to be a poet to put the 10th edition of the Longboard Classic into words. How can you describe an event where a good 440 riders simultaneously and harmoniously conquer an altitude difference of 1001m? Where the legends of our sport cruise edge to edge into the valley with lesser-known riders? Where an 8-year-old is honored on stage just as much as a 73-year-old? Where the organizer personally congratulates everyone who crosses the finish line and where every participant goes home not only with a gift, but above all with a big smile?!

A jet of fire hisses from the exhaust above the hatch and the turbine of the old MI-8 transport helicopter slowly starts to move. Driven by the flight officer's hop-hop-hop calls, we climb aboard at a run, past the dented external tanks, and squeeze into a row on the two benches inside.

We make the last run of the day from a smaller but very steep mountain directly into the "Chimgan" ski area. However, the term "ski resort" has a very specific meaning here. There are lifts here – even a chairlift – but no groomed slopes and you just ski down wherever you can...

It's cold, we're feeling the jet lag and the car has no heating. We drive from the airport in Srinargar to Gulmarg in the sleet and pass the fifth military roadblock. Even after the civil war, traffic in Kashmir is controlled by heavily armed Indian soldiers at all strategically important points...

How do you get there? For example, with Lufthansa from Munich to New Delhi, departing in the evening and landing 8 hours later in the morning. Onward flight with Indian Air to Srinargar, approx. 1 hour. From there you will be picked up at the airport and drive about 2 hours up to the Gulmarg ski resort.

Today is to be our first day in the fresh, untracked Kashmir powder. We meet our guide Mamout, who immediately tells us that the gondola won't be running today...