by sportswriters Yao Youming and Yang Boyi
HARBIN, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Standing on the starting line in Harbin's Yabuli Ski Resort, 26-year-old alpine skier Chencho Dorji has been ready to mark Bhutan's debut at the Asian Winter Games.
"To compete at this kind of event, it was a dream. And now, when I finished my first slide on the slope, I feel my dream come true," said Dorji. "We met a lot of people with the same goal, so we talk with each other. I feel there is a really good and vibrant mentality between all athletes."
Dorji was born in Thimphu, capital of Bhutan. When he was two years old, Dorji was adopted by a French mountain guide Snafu Wowkonowicz and then lived in Paris.
Instructed by Wowkonowicz, Dorji began to ski at Chamonix, France in 2001. "My father was also a lifeguard in the resort on slope, he gave me the feeling and love to ski," Dorji said.
Actually, skiing is one of his favorite sports besides football, swimming, and tennis, among others. He didn't treat skiing seriously before getting enrolled in the National Ski Diploma at the age of 18.
"It took me three years to make my slalom better. I am still in the formation, but I am a ski instructor now," Dorji noted. "My career started very late, so I am good at teaching the skiers who begin to ski at a not very young age in France. I have many Chinese students as well."
At the Asian Winter Games, 77-year-old Wowkonowicz accompanied his son as coach during the official training in Yabuli on Wednesday, who believed that the whole family will be proud of Dorji.
"I did a lot of expeditions, not only in Bhutan, but also in China. I love the two countries. I helped my son to represent Bhutan through cooperating with Bhutan in a long time as a mountain guide," Wowkonowicz said.
Dorji felt great after training, although Yabuli was even colder than Chamonix. "I am very close to the mountain nature. I love the landscape with trees, snow and mountain. The snow was nice. I think the organizers make a good work with the preparation of the slope. I hope the slope will stay like this, not move too much, and I need to cope with the cold weather here with clothes," he said.
On Sunday, Dorji will make history for Bhutan to compete in the men's slalom event. "I want to make the Bhutanese happy. My message to anyone who wants to follow a similar path is simple: never give up," he noted.
The young skier also aims high towards future - becoming the first athlete to represent Bhutan on the international stage at the Olympic Winter Games. ■
