Growing up in the snow-covered landscapes of Tangmarg, Zubair Ahmed Lone found his playground in snow blankets. Hailing from a humble background, Lone’s unwavering determination, perseverance, and resolve motivated him to push his boundaries and strive for greater achievements in the world of skiing.
Let us take a look at his journey in detail.
Early Life
Zubair Ahmad Lone’s skiing journey began at the mere age of 3 when his father accompanied him to the slopes of Gulmarg. His love for skiing and snowboarding grew with time and he used to walk 14 km to Gulmarg to watch the elder kids ski. Lone joined a local skiing class in Gulmarg and often skipped tuitions in winter to attend the skiing class.
The 25-year-old recalls the difficulties he faced during the early days of his skiing amid financial issues his family were facing. “Skiing was like oxygen for me, At that time, I had no money to eat, let alone pay for the ski lift. I used to sneak into the lifts. One day, the employee at the lift told me not to get into the lift, but I still went. After I came down, he caught hold of me and slapped me in front of everyone.” Lone said in an interview.
Lone recalls his first snowboard was bought by his father from a government sports shop in Gulmarg and despite being fragile and full of cracks, he made sure to make full use of it.
Breaking into the world of Skiing
Despite the lack of facilities for winter sports in his homeland, he carved out a path for himself in the challenging world of snow sports. In 2014 he competed in his first junior skiing competition. He then went on to win gold medals in slalom and joint slalom in a National level competition in 2016.
“There was no one to guide me; absolutely no one to teach me a single thing about snowboarding, For years, I practiced on my own.” YouTube videos were his early tutors.” Lone recalls
After passing his 10th board exams, Lone started to earn a livelihood for himself and his family by teaching skiing to the tourists in Gulmarg. In 2022, Lone completed his Bachelor in Physical Education course and went to Steamboat Springs in Colorado thanks to an NGO (SPAN foundation) that came forward to help him financially.
During his time in the USA, Lone participated in four different competitions, earning a respectable 14th spot in his last skiing race.
Chasing dreams on ice: Lone’s quest to represent India at the Winter Olympics
Zubair Ahmad Lone now wants to represent his nation at the upcoming Winter Olympics. However, that would come at a cost, and given his humble family background, Lone is unable to meet the expenses.
With the Winter Games set to take place in Italy in a couple of years, Lone wants to start training in Europe in the 2014-25 season in a bid to prepare for the Winter Games. He also plans to visit the US and Canada for five months of training and participation in five races.
To achieve his dream, Lone has resorted to crowdfunding. He reportedly requires Rs 30 lacs to meet his expenses which include registration with SSWSC, accommodation and travel expenses, nutrition, MISC, and much more.
Apart from training abroad, Lone also wants to participate in the World Cup next year and the World Championships in 2025 to gain enough ranking points to make the cut required for the Winter Olympics.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
