It may be a couple of weeks yet before we might expect to see people prancing around in their swimwear.

But the fact that bikini season is a little way off yet didn't stop hundreds of skiiers taking to the slopes in their skimpies as part of an annual festival in Russia.

Brave participants were filmed on the slopes at the Sheregesh ski resort, performing jumps, posing in ski lifts and capturing their attempts on GoPros - all while clad in swimwear, shorts or costumes.

The mass ski takes part each year as part of the Grelka Festival, with participation growing year on year. While 700 took part in 2013, more than 1,800 braved the cold in 2015.

The scantily-clad event was overseen by professional ski instructors, who ensured the descent took place without a hitch.

Bikini season may be a way off but that didn't stop a thousand plucky skiers from stripping off in Russia

The mass ski takes part each year as part of the Grelka Festival, with participation growing year on year

Skiers and snowboarders in bathing suits take a break from the slopes at the Sheregesh ski resort

The scantily-clad event was overseen by professional ski instructors, who ensured the descent took place without a hitch

Brave participants were filmed on the slopes at Sheregesh ski resorts, performing jumps, posing in ski lifts and capturing their attempt on GoPros - all while clad in swimwear, shorts or costumes

The fact that bikini season is a little way off didn't stop hundreds of skiiers taking to the slopes in their skimpies as part of an annual festival in Russia

Two female skiiers disembark from a ski lift in their beachwear as they prepare to head down the slope

Ski lifts were full of plucky skiers dressed in bikinis or swimwear heading for the slopes

Hundreds of skiiers took part in a downhill run at the same time as part of the Grelka Festival 2016