9 Feb 2025
The 2025 Asian Winter Games, which kick off this weekend in Harbin, China, marks a historic moment for Saudi Arabia. It sends its first-ever delegation of athletes to the winter sports competition. Among those representing the Kingdom are Joud Farhoud and Sharifa Al-Sudairi, both Alpine skiers competing in the women’s slalom event.
Alpine skiing has long been dominated by nations with established winter sports cultures, such as South Korea and Japan. These countries have collectively won 11 of the past 12 medals in the event. However, this year, the competition will include athletes from 15 countries, including Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Although Farhoud and Al-Sudairi may not be favorites for medals in this year’s Games, the event represents a significant milestone in their careers. For both women, it is undoubtedly the biggest competition of their lives.
“This is the highlight of my skiing career so far,” says Farhoud, speaking from Harbin before the opening ceremony. “I am very grateful to be able to carry my country’s flag in such a competition. It’s so exciting to represent Saudi Arabia at such a prestigious event.”
Farhoud’s journey to this point began early. She had her first skiing experience at just two years old during a visit to her grandmother’s house in Switzerland. Al-Sudairi’s path to competitive skiing also started in the Swiss Alps. Both women are now supported by the Saudi Snow Sports Federation (SSSF) and the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
“People are often surprised when they hear that I’m a skier from Saudi Arabia,” says Al-Sudairi. “It’s not a common sport in the region, so I always get a lot of curiosity about my experiences.”
Al-Sudairi’s passion for skiing led her to compete in international events. This gave her the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and share her culture. She credits skiing with opening doors to conversations about Saudi Arabia that go beyond what most people expect from the Kingdom.
Both Farhoud and Al-Sudairi were inspired to pursue their skiing careers after seeing fellow Saudi skier Fayik Abdi compete in the giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Abdi is returning to China this year to lead the Saudi delegation at the Asian Winter Games. The delegation also includes the Saudi men’s curling team.
“Seeing Fayik compete was very exciting because it was the first time I had heard of a Saudi Alpine skier,” says Farhoud. She dreams of competing at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in 2026. “I would love to make it to the Olympics and be the first woman to represent Saudi Arabia in Alpine skiing.”
Al-Sudairi shares the same ambition. Although she started skiing competitively later than Farhoud, she also hopes to earn a spot at the Winter Olympics in 2026. “Being the first woman to represent Saudi Arabia at the Winter Olympics would be a huge achievement, not just for me but for women in sports in my country,” she says. “It would be a personal dream come true and a significant milestone.”
Both athletes have participated in a variety of international competitions over the past year. This includes races in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Ski Dubai in the UAE. These experiences have helped them improve and develop as athletes.
“Every race has played an important role in shaping me,” says Al-Sudairi. “I’ve learned from both my mistakes and my successes. Every moment, whether challenging or rewarding, has helped me grow as a skier.”
While Al-Sudairi’s ultimate skiing destination is the Swiss Alps, which she calls “a skier’s paradise,” Farhoud has a more unconventional favorite: Bosnia. “I really enjoy training in Bosnia because it reminds me of home,” says Farhoud. “The food is amazing, and the atmosphere around skiing is just great. I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress there.”
As Saudi Arabia’s two female slalom competitors prepare for their first appearance at the Asian Winter Games, they hope to inspire future generations of athletes. This is particularly important as the Kingdom gears up to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in the Trojena mountain resort in NEOM.
“Whether it’s overcoming challenges or breaking barriers, I want to inspire others through my passion for skiing,” says Al-Sudairi. “It’s important to have a big goal, like the Olympics, but I’m also focusing on the small steps along the way. Every day I strive to improve, and I hope that inspires others to pursue their dreams, too.”
