The winter sports activities in the snow-covered Kashmir began with the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering's first skiing course of the season at the Gulmarg resort. A spokesman of the Institute said, IISM has taken the lead in conducting first ski course at Gulmarg despite low snowfall at the skiing resort. This year the pattern of snowfall has been unusual as it has snowed very heavily in all regions of Pir Panjal and Kashmir Valley but snowfall has been low in Gulmarg.The Principal of the Institute, J.S. Dhillon said that the Institute would conduct six snow skiing courses this winter and will also train some local boys to take part in the National Ski Championships.