2023-07-10 -- Extreme Sports in Iran? Am I kidding?

I've been living in Canada and the US for almost three decades now. Despite the abundance of information available online, I'm still surprised by how many people seem unaware of life in other countries.

I've traveled to many places around the world and enjoy sharing stories about them. However, I often encounter disbelief, especially when I talk about Iran. Having lived there for a significant period, I feel confident in my knowledge of the country.

For instance, when I mention that Iran has a mountain like Damavand (1), which is over 5,600 meters tall, or that the country has a diverse geography (2) with many people living in higher elevations or near rivers and lakes, the common response is "Really?" Yes, really!

Mount Damavand

Wild Tulips in Mountains in North West

I've lost count of how many times I've been asked, "Had you seen snow before moving to North America?" Yes, I had. I used to plow snow every winter morning before going to school!

Winters in Tabriz

Something that truly bothers me, not out of any sense of nationalism, is the widespread misconception that Iranians are uneducated unless they've studied abroad. Despite the abundance of information available, many people still hold this outdated view.

According to the World Bank, Iran faces an issue of overeducation, rather than undereducation. This means that the education level of the population often exceeds the demands of the job market. (3)

My own family history challenges this stereotype. My parents and all my aunts and uncles earned advanced degrees from Iranian universities decades ago. My father, a prominent figure in academia, founded several faculties and clinics at the University of Tabriz, including the largest dental school in the Middle East (4). The university even named a library after him. These examples highlight the high value placed on education in Iran.

It's truly disheartening to think about Iran's potential and the trajectory it was on before the political upheavals of the past few decades. Iran was once a country with a thriving economy, world-class infrastructure, and a high standard of living.

The country boasted modern highways, universities, hospitals, international airports, ... It had a robust manufacturing industry, capable of producing a wide range of products, from simple household appliances to complex machinery like helicopters. Iran Air, the national airline, was a major player in the global aviation industry, operating a fleet of advanced aircraft, including Boeing 747 SPs (5), designed specifically for long-haul flights between Tehran and New York. It had three supersonic Concords on order. (6)

The Iranian military was also a formidable force in the region, particularly the Air Force, which was one of the only two operators of the advanced F-14 Tomcat (7) fighter jet, beside the USA Navy.

However, a series of geopolitical events, including the 1979 Iranian Revolution, derailed Iran's progress. Despite the setbacks, Iran still maintains a strong educational system and a rich cultural heritage. Iranians have to be grateful to French, German, British, and specifically Americans under the leadership of Jimmy Carter for the fall of the regime. (8) Iran of 50 years ago, was way more advanced than many countries in the world today. But sadly Iran's past seems to be distant future in comparison to its conditions today.

It's important to remember that Iran's potential is far from exhausted. With the right conditions, the country can once again emerge as a regional and global power.

The reason I started this topic with sports is simple: you need a certain level of comfort and leisure to pursue hobbies beyond basic survival. You need enough money, a broad worldview, a good education, and free time to think about things other than the daily grind of life, as well as sports such as soccer (or football, as it's known outside of the US and Canada), running, boxing, wrestling, and so on.

I used to ski in Iran, both alpine and cross-country. My wife, sister, and many of our friends and relatives did as well. Tabriz, my hometown, has its own ski resort, Payam (9). Built before I was born.

It's me. 1969. Love that sheepskin hat and Jacket!

But the place I loved the most, was Dizin (10). One of the five Ski resorts all within two hour of Tehran. (Tehran - Iran, not Salt Lake City, Denver, or Banff) I loved it so much I would be there before lifts start in the morning to catch the first cabin, and would leave after all the lifts stopped for the day!

Ignore the 80's fashion!

The mid mountain to the top, gondola and chairs

If we wanted to stay overnight or for multiple days, there were options like the old hotel built in the 1960s or the newer hotels and chalets.

If I was not at Dizin, I was at Shemshak (11).

Unlike Dizin, which primarily offered powdery snow and easy terrain, Shemshak was known for its icy slopes and challenging moguls. I sustained only one injury at Dizin over the years, but many at Shemshak.

When conditions weren't ideal at Dizin or Shemshak, I would head to Darband Sar (12), though it wasn't my favorite. I've also visited Abali (13), which has had modern lifts since 1953.

For a quick ski fix, I'd often go to Tochal (14), a ski resort within Tehran itself. I could easily take public transportation there, enjoy a few hours of skiing, and return home before noon.

Tochal, and polluted air of Tehran in winter

I was even fortunate enough to be the construction manager for one of the largest developments in the Shemshak area. It was incredibly fun to earn a living while having unlimited access to the slopes.

How about water skiing? I doubt I could do that while riding a camel in the desert!

Karaj Dam (15), located near Tehran, is one of three dams supplying drinking water to the city. Before the revolution, many sports activities were popular there, including water skiing and skydiving. While I couldn't imagine myself skydiving, I did enjoy water skiing.

I would often spend mornings water skiing on the calm waters, afternoons practicing slalom courses, and evenings pulling off a powerful 350 HP V8 engine to halt.

My coach / Instructor/ Ski Boat Driver, Moossa

Another favorite sport of mine, as well as my wife's, was windsurfing. While the wind conditions weren't always ideal, they were sufficient for learning and enjoying the sport.

Very light wind, no one is there but me!

It's disheartening to encounter such outdated and inaccurate perceptions of Iran. It's important to challenge these stereotypes and share the rich history and culture of the country. Iran has a long and fascinating history, with a diverse population and a strong emphasis on education. It's a country that has experienced both prosperity and adversity, but its people have always been resilient and resourceful.

The next time you hear "Iran," I hope you don't imagine sand dunes, mud brick houses, people riding camels, or a lack of education, money, and hobbies. Iran was a thriving country with a lot to offer, including mud brick houses and camels and sand dunes.

I hope everyone can learn more about other countries and their cultures. Perhaps we're more similar than we think.

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Damavand

(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran

(3) https://blogs.worldbank.org/arabvoices/iran-education-crises#:~:text=Allow%20me%20to%20start%20with,in%20Iran%27s%20higher%20education%20system.

(4) tps://dentistry-en.tbzmed.ac.ir/

(5) https://simpleflying.com/boeing-747-sp-why/

(6) https://simpleflying.com/iran-air-concorde-order/

(7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat

(8) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadeloupe_Conference

(9) https://travital.com/attraction/payam-ski-resort-yam-ski-resort-marand/

(10) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizin

(11) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemshak_%28ski_resort%29