Ski Dubai Announces First Sponsored Snowsports Team

If you've ever even wondered by the venue in Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, you'll know Ski Dubai can provide hours of entertainment, even when you're not inside. And it looks like all that time in skis and on snowboards have paid off for these 18 youngsters, who have just been announced as the first ever sponsored snowsports team.

Led by Great Britain's former Head Freestyle Moguls Ski Coach, Chris David, they're girls and boys aged 10-21, who will be Alpine Skiers, Snowboarders, and Freestyle Skiers. As well as hailing from the UAE, they represent a number of nations including Italy, Great Britain, Russia and Australia.

"This is a chance to represent the UAE on the world stage and it means so much to me to be selected for the Ski Dubai Snowsports team," 15-year-old Emirati, Maryam Al Tamimi, said. "Ski Dubai has been an amazing place to hone my skills with my own personalized training program and fantastic facilities. I can't wait to work with the team in the coming months as we progress together."

Read more about them below ad see the gallery to glimpse them in action.

Freestyle Skiers

• Meera Al Suwadi – 15 – United Arab Emirates
• Maitha Al Juwaid – 17 – United Arab Emirates
• Maryam Al Tamimi – 15 – United Arab Emirates
• Khalifa Bin Ghalita – 15 – United Arab Emirates
• Omar Taryam – 17 – United Arab Emirates
• Abdulla Al Muhairi – 21 – United Arab Emirates

Freestyle Snowboarders

• Saeed Al Matrooshi – 18 – United Arab Emirates
• Ahmed Al Quasi – 19 – United Arab Emirates
• Hussain Al Shaali - 15 - United Arab Emirates
• Sharma Al Hamed – 17 - United Arab Emirates

Alpine Skiers

• Beatrice Astridge – 14 - Italy
• Alex Astridge – 10 - Italy
• Naimh Sheriff – 14 - Great Britain
• Ben Sheriff – 10 – Great Britain
• Dana Talieva – 11 – Russia
• Oscar Morgan – 12 - Australia
• Sara Rehman – 13 - Great Britain
• Robyn Leslie – 14 - Great Britain