As Olympics loom, China plunges into the ski business

Zhangjiakou, China

HAO Rui took up skiing only this winter, but the 17-year-old looked like a veteran as he perched casually atop a slope outside Beijing before schussing downhill.

"I started my training on Nov 28. I'd never been skiing before," said Mr Hao, standing with other young Chinese in brightly coloured ski jackets at a resort in Zhangjiakou, outside Beijing.

For some, it is a skill…