No matter at what age you enter a sport, your attitude is what cements your success.

Today’s guest and the first woman to join the Saudi Arabia Alpine Skiing Team, Sharifa Al-Sudairi, epitomises courage in competition.

The 36-year-old athlete only took up professional ski racing in 2020 and admits that she has a long way to go. But Sharifa has already become a trailblazer among Arab women for her “never give up” mindset, which she has consciously been training since becoming an athlete.

From growing up tackling the slopes of Switzerland as a child to enduring crashes as a forerunner, Sharifa has kept picking herself back up to push on in the sport and competed in her first official competition at Ski Dubai last November, which we get into in the show.

We also discuss the huge potential in winter sports that is building in the Kingdom, now that Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the reception that women from the region have been receiving world over for making a mark in a range of sports.

Sharifa’s perspective and lessons through skiing resonate with us, and we hope they do with you too!

Enjoy!

To follow Sharifa,  head to @sharifa_ski

To find out more about the Saudi Snow Sports Federation, visit @sssfksa and wintersports.sa

Today’s episode was supported by the awesome and adventurous team at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool. Check them out for some truly awe-inspiring scuba and freedive experiences. Visit www.deepdivedubai.com

Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.

For more info,  visit www.themettleset.com , and follow us on @themettleset

Dawn & Afshan

@dawnable

@afshahmed