For this young duo, skis the limit

Jumma and Mumtaz won medals in Korea’s Dream Programme.

KARACHI: Naltar youth Mir Jumma, who won the gold medal in Korea last week, believes that learning professional skiing was tougher than skiing freestyle on the slopes of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Jumma, along with Muhammad Mumtaz, who won the silver medal in Korea, said that the experience in Korea at the Dream Programme in the Gangwon Province has motivated him to ski for life.

“I learnt new things about skiing even though I’ve been skiing for three years in Naltar,” the 15-year-old told The Express Tribune. “It was a great experience. I made new friends too, especially with people from Afghanistan, because they understood Urdu and some English. There were some very competitive athletes from Morroco and Mexico.”

The eighth-grade student from Army Public School (APS) in Naltar said that winning in Korea was special as he made his country proud.

“It’s great and my father supports me,” said Jumma. “I have four brothers and four sisters. I’m the first one to take up skiing in my family.”

According to Mir’s coach, Muhammad Qamar, the biggest eye-opener for the children was the difference between competitive skiing and recreational skiing. “These children have never travelled before, so at first they were a little shy,” said Qamar. “But slowly they began to open up. They realised that skiing in Naltar with friends, just coming down from a mountain and skiing at a competition with rules and regulations are two very different things.”

Mumtaz, who also studies in APS Naltar, agreed with Jumma and Qamar. The 16-year-old said that mountain, skiing is his favourite sport, and he mostly enjoys the race.

“I enjoyed outpacing other players, and following the rules and staying on the track,” said Mumtaz. “I learnt a lot of techniques and I know I want to continue skiing now. It’s what I want to do in life.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2015.

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