It takes professional athletes years of training and thousands of pounds worth of equipment to compete for a medal at the Winter Olympics.But at this skiing event in Afghanistan all you need is enthusiasm and a couple of planks of wood.The annual Afghan Ski Challenge, which takes place in Banyam, near the capital Kabul, is so low-tech there aren't even ski lifts, with competitors forced to hike three miles up a mountain before the event even begins.Dressed in jumpers, scarves and even loafers, the competitors carry their equipment up to roughly 3,400 metres (11,100ft) before skiing back down.There is only one event, a downhill race everyone takes part in at the same time, with the winner being the first to cross the finish line after passing through all the checkpoints on the way down.The race is open to both skiers and snowboarders, with most competitors using whatever they can get their hands on.In recent years, many Afghan nationals have shown their ingenuity by carving themselves skis and poles out of wood, using old planks or fence posts.They then use sandal straps, plastic and strips cut from old tyres to hold their feet in place before racing down the Koh-e-Baba Mountain Range.British photographer Paul Hutchings, 42, who captured these images, said they would still put most people to shame.He said: 'It is absolutely amazing to watch these guys use the most basic items to ski. They use whatever they can get their hands on. 'It is totally different to the Alps and the Rockies. The are no lifts, no chairs, this is raw skiing at its best.'The event, now in its fourth year, featured 15 racers from Afghanistan and 15 international competitors from the USA, Australia, Norway, Slovenia, New Zealand, France and the UK.Foreign competitors must pay $500 (£300) to take part, but for Afghan nationals the competition is free.The challenge was eventually won by Afghan ski instructor Ali Shah - who used modern equipment and was used to the high-altitude conditions.Mr Hutchings, from Cardiff, Wales, added: 'The area is covered in snow for three to four months and because the locals are used to the altitude they are really fit and hardly get tired around the course.'All money made by the race is put back into promoting the local skiing and tourism in Afghanistan as the country emerges from a decade of war.While Banyam Ski Club, which organises the event, insists the area is safe from fighting, they do point out that the mountains don't have any of the safety feature usually associated with ski resorts.There are no avalanche warning systems, no mobile phone signal, no mountain rescue service, and medical facilities are 'basic', their Facebook page says.They say that the competition is strictly 'no weapons', adding that 'all participants take part solely at their own risk'(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az