Meet Faisal Al Rasheed, Saudi Arabia’s first Olympic snowboarder. Ruptly caught up with 33-year-old captain of the Saudi Royal Guard on the slopes of Valle di Casies in Italy where he is training for Beijing. Faisal is one of the six athletes on the first Saudi Winter Olympic team. Best of luck to them.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture.... More by Francis Xavier