“Ski Dubai” has revealed the team for the 2023/2024 season it sponsors, following the selection of the most distinguished and talented ice skiers and snowboarders in the region. The diverse group includes individuals from 11 different nationalities, comprising over 30 highly skilled athletes, including 12 Emiratis, ranging in age from 7 to 20 years. For the first time this year, the sponsorship program includes young amateur winter sports enthusiasts aged 7 to 10.
The 2023/2024 season team features various winter sports disciplines, including Ski Dubai’s freestyle skiing team, snowboarding team, alpine ice skiing team, the UAE National Ice Skiing team, the UAE National Snowboarding team, and the National Freestyle Skiing team. Each team will consist of both a main team and a youth development team.
Among the notable athletes chosen by Ski Dubai and the UAE Winter Sports Federation is 16-year-old Amna Almheiri, 17-year-old Sultan Al Kindi, both of whom have previously competed in the prestigious FIS Park and Pipe World Junior Championships held in Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand.
“Ski Dubai” will provide the team it sponsors with several benefits, reflecting its commitment to nurturing young talent in ice skiing and snowboarding. These benefits include unrestricted access to slopes, over 100 hours of training by elite athletes, and the use of specialized equipment. Additionally, the team will receive complete winter apparel from renowned luxury fashion brands such as Spyder, Volcom, and RAKU.
Mohammed Al Attar, Deputy Head of Global Snow Projects at Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, congratulated the new members of the Ski Dubai-sponsored team and stated that the region is rich in outstanding talent in ice skiing and snowboarding. He emphasized Ski Dubai’s ongoing commitment to supporting young talents in winter sports through world-class training and state-of-the-art indoor facilities.
Hamel Al Qubaisi, Deputy Head of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, expressed pride in the commitment and dedication shown by the new team, emphasizing their role in representing the UAE on the international stage and inspiring new generations of winter sports enthusiasts.
Over the past decade, Ski Dubai has worked to promote the culture of winter sports in the Middle East and North Africa, introducing over 90,000 people annually to skiing and winter sports and enabling them to practice these sports. In 2017, Ski Dubai launched the Team Sponsorship Program (formerly known as the Athlete Sponsorship Program) to nurture young talent and provide a platform for athletes to learn, refine, and develop their skills.
It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates achieved full membership in the International Ski Federation in 2022, allowing it to host internationally recognized skiing competitions and enabling Emirati winter sports enthusiasts to compete on the international stage.