Russians cast off the gloom from the new Cold War with the West with a record-breaking descent in swimwear.
Some 1,525 revellers stripped to bikinis and bathing shorts despite temperatures of only 5C in the spring sunshine of the Siberian resort of Sheregesh.
Skiers and snowboarders marked the end of the winter season by beating their own previous Russian record for the near naked descent.
Time for a quick sunbathe! This reveller, wearing a barely-there red bikini, looked happy to catch a couple of rays in the 5C Siberian temperatures
Skiers and snowboarders set off coloured smoke flares as they made their way down the slope in the Siberian resort of Sheregesh
Pucker up! One woman donned a skimpy blue swimsuit as she waved orange pom poms in the snow
This participant braved the cold in a blue swimsuit teamed with long black socks, as revellers gathered before beginning the near-naked descent
Huddle up! A couple embrace in the snow in their swimwear and try to keep warm in the icy weather
Time for a quick selfie: Some 1,525 revellers gather with their skies and snowboards at the top of the enormous slope
One participant Rodion Kirpichikov, said: ‘Emotions are overflowing.
‘The sun is like Thailand, the snow is like the Alps, the party is like Ibiza.
‘Thanks to all for this insane trip.’
This brave man covered his dignity with a bunny rabbit-themed pair of pink and white Y-fronts
This snowboarder, wearing a skimpy pink bikini and matching reflective sunglasses, did not appear fazed by the cold weather
Need a lift? This helpful man in checked trunks swung his smiling female companion over his shoulders during the event
Beaming snowboarders line up behind one another in their swimwear before the descent
A pair of snowboarders went all out with their skimpy costumes, with one sporting a Catwoman mask over her bright orange locks
Nearly time to go! A snowboarder poses up with her board before embarking on the descent in icy Siberia
One, Kristina Tikhomirova, said: ‘I was told that Siberian women are the craziest and most fearless and they are completely right.
‘It was an explosive day.
‘The weather was super, the people are cheerful, so, if you were not here, you lost a lot!’
Irina Komarova said: ‘There’s an carefree atmosphere of overwhelming joy so much that you don’t want to return to usual things….there are no prohibitions.’
People came from around the world – including Uganda, Canada and Sweden – for the annual event.
‘Wearing bikinis and bathing shorts a total of 1,525 claimed a new Russian record for the daring downhill escapade’ reported The Siberian Times.
Last year 1,496 took part in the so-called GrelkaFest highlight closing the ski season.
One reveller carried a blue smoke flare as she snowboarded down the snowy slope in a purple swimsuit – and even managed to snap a selfie at the same time
This bikini-clad woman posed with her skies in the snow with a pair of trousers wrapped around her calves
Coffee fan? One reveller wore a red bikini with a coffee brand logo on it, teamed with a pair of avitator sunglasses
This participant wore a revealing swimsuit coupled with long black chaps and a green headband during the record-breaking event
But she soon decided to embrace the cold weather, posing up with her floral pink snowboard after ditching her black chaps
Snowboarders pose in their skimpy outfits before the descent began. Many take selfies to remember the bizarre occasion
We made it! One Russian woman happily poses on her snowboard at the bottom of the snowy Siberian slope
Stanislav Konenko, editor of the Russian Book of Records, confirmed the achievement.
‘This is the coolest record,’ he said.
‘It’s very pleasant to be here, always a really positive atmosphere.
‘Preparation for the record is always at a high level.
‘There were no gross violations of the rules for setting the record.
‘All the issues were resolved on the spot.’
Ready to go: These revellers appeared to have planned their outfits in advance, with one showcasing a fluorescent pink bikini and the other a matching beanie hat
Thumbs up! This snowboarder wore a fetching bobble hat and black rucksack as other revellers gathered behind him
Here we go! Participants made their way down the slope with beaming smiles. One girl (left) carries a clutch bag to match her baby blue bikini
These Russian snowboarders could not contain their glee as they descended the slope in their barely-there costumes
One woman made a love heart shape with her arms as she trampled around in a deep pile of snow
This snowboarder carefully coordinated her skimpy attire, teaming a black bikini with matching socks and boots
Sheregesh, in the Kemerovo region, is Siberia’s most developed downhill skiing resort, located in the Gornaia Shoria region of the Altai mountain range.
Originally constructed as a mining settlement, in Stalinist times there was a local Gulag nearby.
Its 12,000 inmates built the local railway line.