'New world record' for glamorous swimwear

'New world record' for glamorous swimwear parade on skis and snowboards: Pictures show 1,835 men, women and children 'smash record' in the Siberian sun.
By Vera Salnitskaya: We know, how to celebrate snow - nearly two thousand people gathered in Sheregesh, Siberia. Picture: Vera Salnitskaya There was huge support for the latest 'cold is hot' piste spectacle at the region's top winter sports resort Sheregesh. Orgnanisers are now waiting to hear if Guinness World Records confirms that they have smashed their own 2013 record for ski-ing in bikinis and other swimwear. The previous record was set on 20 April 2013 with 500 participants - this year there were 1,835 people from 54 cities, towns and villages - in Russia and abroad - who took part in the snow show. One woman came from Paris to take part. Konstantin Koshkin, who choreographed the event, said: 'We recorded the ride from more than 50 cameras, including aerial, and the video will be sent to Britain so that the Guinness World Records people can count the number of participants by themselves. 'There was a funny moment where Britain didn't agree to one piece swimming costumes, insisting on bikinis for women, but we had to say: 'Come on, there are women aged 50-plus taking part, so the Guinness guys said in the end: 'Fine, ladies must be looking respectable, we take your point' and accepted it.' 'As for men, many were in knee length 'shorts, which are actually Hawaiian-style swimming trunks.' He emphasised: 'It's fantastic to see so many happy, almost euphoric people gathering together to enjoy snow and sun at Sheregesh. This really is the main thing about our festival. We would be very pleased if it makes our resort known worldwide. 'We want to show what great fun it is to come here, and encourage everyone to join us. I want people in Russia to hear more about us, too, because we are very close - closer than many of our compatriots think. 'We want Sheregesh to be known as the place where people love having fun and sharing it with each other, where it's all about laughter and jokes, and you will find incredibly good snow, like nowhere else in the world, and some of the warmest hearted people. 'Come join us, we are waiting for you in Sheregesh'.
Smile, you are in Siberia! Picture: Vera Salnitskaya 
The event was a highlight of the annual Grelka Fest - all about keeping warm (a 'grelka' is a Russian-style hot water bottle). Maria, 28, Novosibirsk, said: 'It's my second bikini ride and I think everyone should join us and come here. It's like a mini Switzerland, and it's fabulous that living in Siberia, it's just a short drive away.' Kristina, 18, from Kemerovo: 'I love being here. It's April, its sunny and very hot, it's like the air is filled with positive emotions.' Lyuba, 32, from Novokuznetsk, said: 'This is an absolutely fantastic idea, we fully support the organisers of the festival and we hope we've made a record today.' Ksenia, 23, from Barnaul, admitted: 'I even skipped my work to make sure I got here in advance and got a cool number.' Vitaliy, 28, from Novosibirsk came down the mountain with his West Highland White Terrier, Eva. Ivan, 24, from Myski, said: 'It's my 24th birthday. Me and my friends are so happy to be here. We want to get the record and we want to show just what a fun it is to be in Siberia.' Svetlana, 50, from Novokuznetsk, said: 'I love Sheregesh. A week ago I was snowboarding in a carnival costume, today I will be putting my bikini on. It's a great idea and I've been long wanting to take part.' Yuri, 54, from Kaltan, said: 'I am very happy to be here. Last year I watched the ride, and this year I decided to be with others on the hill. It's great here. As my grandson says, 'Grandpa, you are the coolest one because of how well you ski'.
'We want to show what great fun it is to come here, and encourage everyone to join us'. Pictures here & below: Vera Salnitskaya 
Sheregesh, in Kemerovo region, is Siberia's most developed downhill skiing resort, located in the Gornaia Shoria region of the Altai mountain range. Originally built as a mining settlement, in Stalinist times there was a local Gulag nearby. Its 12,000 inmates built the local railway line. Now it is better known for winter sports, and superb snow. As http://www.worldsnowboardguide.com stated: 'If you are not a Siberian, you will probably have the only single reason to go to Sheregesh; the local snow, which is unique. Starting from the beginning of November until the beginning of March there's at least 1 metre of high quality snow. The local powder is dry and fast and is considered to be the best snow in Russia'.

Michael Phelps Calories Punch

He has already earned himself a record-breaking Olympic medals in the world But American international swimmer Michael Phelps works hard for the enviably strong physique that has garnered him an army of female fans as well as a closet full of medals. The 27-year-old athlete, whose arms span 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)—disproportionate to his height of 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm)— maintains that his performance is down to his highly calorific diet, which sees him feast on a staggering 12,000 calories every day. He starts the day with a hearty breakfast consisting of three fried-egg sandwiches, three chocolate chip pancakes, a five-egg omelette, three sugar-coated slices of French toast, and a bowl of grits (maize porridge). His lunch doesn't get much smaller as he devours half a kilogram of pasta (enriched with vitamins and fibre) over lunch, two large ham and cheese sandwiches covered in mayonnaise and gallons of energy drinks. For his final meal of the day, he finishes off the remaining kilogram of pasta, followed by pizza and
more energy drinks. Fellow swimmer  Ryan Lochte has an equally epic diet. 'After morning practise I have a big breakfast: pancakes, waffles, cereal, bagels, eggs, everything.' Personal trainer and nutritionist and weight management expert Jenny Dawes, who has trained athletes, rugby player and celebrities such as Ulrika
Johnson, maintains that, although Michael's diet would be dangerous for a regular person, he needs that amount of energy for training. 'I would recommend that a regular competitive male swimmer would need around 6,000 calories a day but because Michael is at Olympic level will be training so hard that he will be burning it straight off. 'His cholesterol intake is very high but by constantly
swimming, there is no time for the cholesterol to stick to his arteries. His  cholesterol levels do need to be checked regularly toensure he is not putting his body at risk for Jenny says that Michael's energy drink consumption is necessary for an athlete in order to keep his electrolytes balanced and his muscles hydrated. 'Carb and electrolyte enhance drinks should be taken to replenish glygogen stores in muscles and liver as dehydration can cause muscles to fatigue very quickly. I would always check the sugar content on the bottles.' Phelps's high-calorie diet clearly pays off as his international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him the World Swimmer of the Year Award six times and American
Swimmer of the Year Award eight times.  He has won a total of sixty-six medals in major international competition, fifty-four gold, nine silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships. His unprecedented Olympic success in
2008 earned Phelps Sports llustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. His hard work paid off at the Beijing Games where he took home Men's 200m Butterfly gold medal Source: http://travelfwdplus.blogspot.com/