No ski resorts? No problem for one urban skier in Paris

Skier Nathan practices ski down the Montmartre hill near the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large northern part of the country, France, February 10, 2021. REUTERS/Antony Paone

France's ski resorts are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so one French winter sports enthusiast did the next best thing on Wednesday - skiing down a steep street in Paris.

"Because the government has closed down ski resorts, we do what we can," said the urban skier, who gave his name as Nathan. "We're reduced to doing this, unfortunately."

Paris was blanketed in snow, but skiing conditions were far removed from the wide, sweeping pistes of the French Alps.

Skier Nathan practices ski down the Montmartre hill near the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large northern part of the country, France, February 10, 2021. REUTERS/Antony Paone

In the city's hilly Montmartre district, Nathan tried to ski down a steep section of cobbles running alongside a flight of steps that visitors climb to reach the Sacre Coeur church.

But his skis skittered over the thin snow covering and he fell repeatedly, colliding several times with trees.

Later, he moved on to a small patch of grass directly beneath the church, where he was able to get in several successful, if short, runs.

(The story refiles to add dropped letter in "Montmartre" in paragraph 4)

(Reporting by Antony Paone; Writing by Michaela Cabrera and Christian Lowe; Editing by Janet Lawrence)