Sharif Zawaideh carries the flag at Friday's opening ceremony. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY AND XINHUA
No coach, no trainer, no teammate — no one to service his skis.
Sharif Zawaideh stood alone as Jordan's sole representative at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.
But he wasn't lonely.
On the eve of the opening ceremony, he marked his 45th birthday surrounded by athletes from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and beyond. "And I got to be the flag bearer as my birthday present," he said.
Finishing 30th in the men's slalom, Zawaideh departed Monday night for Austria to compete in the Alpine Ski World Championships.
But, before leaving, he had plenty of goodbyes to say — to athletes from other countries, particularly those from the Middle East. "We've really bonded and become friends," he said.
"What's been really special about being here is that I train in the United States, even though I'm from Jordan, and there's not many people from Jordan or the Middle Eastern Arab countries that ski, and I don't feel like I belong in skiing when I'm in Europe or America," he said.
"But, being here, and being part of something that's so international, that brings more diversity to a sport that is very much dominated by Europeans and Americans, it's been really great. If only just to showcase that, just because we're from countries that don't have snow or don't have mountains, we can participate too."
"The Asian Winter Games are a very important thing for Asia and for the Middle East."
Zawaideh's time in China left a lasting impression — especially the warmth and hospitality of the people he encountered.
"We have three volunteers assisting Team Jordan, and every morning they help with the car, my equipment, transportation, meals and guest passes. Even the security staff, drivers, and hotel employees have been incredibly welcoming and accommodating, despite the language barrier," he said.
With only a short window between his competition and his late-night flight, Zawaideh expressed his desire to experience some of Harbin before departing. "I'd love to visit the Ice and Snow World, explore the Asian Games center and catch some curling or hockey matches."
Sharif Zawaideh poses for a picture at a ski resort in Wyoming in the United States. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY AND XINHUA
Born and raised in the United States, Zawaideh has always felt a deep connection to his homeland of Jordan — a country better known for its scorching summers and vast deserts than for winter sports.
Zawaideh learned to ski in the US and turned his passion into a career as a ski instructor in Wyoming. In 2010, he reached out to the Jordan Olympic Committee, hoping to compete for his country. However, with no winter sports federation in place at the time, his dream was put on hold.
"There aren't many Jordanians, or even many Arabs, who ski," he said.
For over two decades, the dual-national athlete straddled the cultural divide between the US and Jordan, unsure if he would ever get the chance to represent his country. Then, in 2023, frustrated by unanswered emails, he took an unconventional approach — sending a direct message to the Jordan Olympic Committee's official Instagram account.
To his surprise, he received a positive response and, at the Asian Winter Games, Zawaideh has finally realized his dream of competing as an alpine skier for Jordan.
For Zawaideh, skiing is the ultimate expression of freedom — gliding down the snow, guided by gravity, whether on an alpine racecourse or a big-mountain free ride. "There's truly no feeling like it," he said.
"Maybe you practice meditation in your life to clear your mind. Skiing is almost meditative. If you're thinking about anything other than your next turn, you're done — it's over," he explained. "You have to be completely focused and calm, and that brings me a deep sense of peace."
At the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Zawaideh is the oldest alpine skier in the competition — but he doesn't feel it.
"I think age is really a mindset. If you stay active and don't just sit on the couch as you get older, your body can still perform — maybe not as well as when you were 20, but close," he said. "And if this were a foot race up the mountain, I bet I could beat most of these guys."
"I'm nearly eight years older than the next oldest competitor," he said, believing his age gives him an edge mentally.
"I don't get nervous, I don't get scared and I'm not worried about the crowd or standing at the top of the course," he added with a laugh. "But, I do have a harder time getting out of bed in the morning."
Skiing doesn't take up Zawaideh's entire life, though, as he also runs a logistics company for music festivals.
"I've always been a skier, but I've only recently become a ski racer," he said. "In the winter, I teach skiing, but my focus has always been on big-mountain free riding."
The next Asian Winter Games will be held in Saudi Arabia, where Zawaideh, who will be 49 by then, hopes to compete again. "As long as I stay healthy, I'll keep going — and I'd love to take part," he said.
For him, growing Jordan's presence in winter sports is just as important as his own journey. He looks forward to the day when he's no longer the only Jordanian on the slopes, attending coaching meetings alone, or adjusting his skis without a team.
"I hope to inspire more Jordanians to try ice and snow sports," he said. "There's no reason we can't have skiers, skaters and maybe even a hockey team in the future."
Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn
