Interview with a Magic-Moguler

2nd in Italian Cup !...extract from the Magic Mogul Diaries

Home Town

Date Of Birth - 13th April 1982 (age - 22)

Height: 5'4

Weight: 57kg

Education

Attended St. Fidelis in Barnehurst from 1987 to 1993. Secondary education was at St. Columbus in Bexleyheath from 1993 to 1998. Obtained a distinction in RSA Clait level III in Information Technology in 1999 at Bromley College.

Where were you born?

I was born at Greenwich Hospital, South East London.

Insight into your family

My family are from the little island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. First my Granddad came to England to expand his furniture business, and then my Grandma along with my mother and her two brothers and two sisters came to join him a few years later. My dad's parent came over around the same time to UK and settled in the London region. My Grandparents worked all hours that they could to ensure my parents and their brother and sisters got good education and from this my brothers and I along with my cousins have prospered in more ways than one. I have two brothers both older than me and we all started skiing at the same time but they enjoy it now as a holiday once a year.

My Mum and Dad were 10 and 11 years old when they came to England. They have known each other since they were kids and it's their 30th wedding anniversary this year. Unfortunately my mother's father passed away when I was only one but from what I have been told about him I know that he would have been my inspiration as is my father's mother who sadly passed away after a long battle against cancer, both these people are one of the reasons I am where I am today.

School years

I had some fun times when I was at school, I was in the Football team, Rugby team, Athletics team. I liked sports as it runs in the family that we seem to pick it up naturally. Like most kids in my time I liked the not so brain-taxing subject better, but now wished maybe I had studied more in the language lessons.

When and where did you learn to ski?

First introduction to skiing was on a holiday in Mayrhofen at the age of nine years old. The next time on snow was in 1992 on a ski holiday with the family to Sauze D'Oulx Italy. This is where I got the real buzz as a crazy instructor taught me by the name of Renzo, who is now a great personnel friend (click thumb right). Started more skiing on the dry slope in Bromley and joined the race club in 1998 and competed in competition around England. I liked it but needed something with more of a challenge and in the winter of '98 was introduced to Freestyle moguls by Ian Terry who was a member of the England Team.

Raced as a club member until I was chosen for the England B in May 1999. First competition on snow was in Australia where I trained in Mount Hotham and competed in a couple of Continental Cups from July to September 2000. Trained in Steamboat Colorado USA and competed in Rocky Mountain Disciplines competition from November 2000 to February 2001. Have returned to Australia for training in summer 2001 and also returned to Steamboat for 2002. The last two winter seasons I have been training and competing with the Italian Freestyle Ski Team, I was based in Sauze d'oulx, Italy.

Recently the BBC made contact and wanted to interview me about why I am in Italy training with the Italian Ski Team, how I got in contact with the Italian team, why its so hard to get noticed, and about sponsorship in Britain. They also filmed me training, practising on the mogul course as well as general skiing. The program is due to be aired in September/October 2004.

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