Srinagar Mar 21: Former South African fielding legend Jonty Rhodes delayed his return to South Africa for a snowboarding getaway in Gulmarg.
Rhodes, renowned for his acrobatic fielding skills, has developed a deep affection for Kashmir’s winters. He frequently visits the region, spending weeks enjoying the pristine slopes highlighting his love for the valley’s winter offerings.
This time, he postponed his departure from Goa to make yet another trip to the famed ski destination, accompanied by his family.
In one of his series of Instagram posts about Kashmir, Rhodes wrote that he delayed his departure to South Africa from Goa for skiing and stay in Gulmarg.
“Rhodes Family has checked out of Goa after an enriching 5 months in Agonda, and we were perfect with our exit timing, as Gulmarg has just had their best snow for many seasons, and after getting confirmation from an old friend, and Gulmarg ski guide, we decided to take full advantage of this Himalayan powder, by delaying our departure to South Africa by 5 days,” he wrote in the description of a short video showing Rhodes family skiing in Gulmarg.
Rhodes highlighted the region’s appeal for skiers, noting that it offers a variety of options, including off-piste terrain for adventure enthusiasts.
In yet another post, he expressed the joy behind the igloo being made by his children in Gulmarg. “Nathan and India have been constructing this igloo “home” over the past 2 days, even though we had spent a good few hours and plenty of energy snowboarding. They don’t need us to create the activity for them, but occasionally we help out a little, and ALWAYS when they call us to “come and see” we head out of our cozy cottage to inspect and appreciate their creation,” he posted.
With Rhodes embracing Kashmir’s winter charm year after year, Gulmarg’s growing allure among international skiers only seems to be strengthening.
“We always expect celebrities and famous sports personalities to come to Kashmir and attend the Khelo India winter sports in Gulmarg. It benefits our efforts of promotion of winter sports and that of Gulmarg as a destination also. We hope for more celebrities to come to Gulmarg as many have been asking about it,” said Secretary J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul.