I came in 1989 with John Falkiner (Australian mountain guide based in Verbier). We brought a crew of 9 with 2 photographers, 1 film cameraman, 1 tri-pod wallah, and 5 telemark skiers(ourselves) and spent 6 weeks skinning up Affarwhat (before the gondola, before the war). Brian Dyson and Belinda Jones from Wanaka were the ONLY westerners at Gulmarg when we arrived. The little poma lifts and the little chair were working but no one around.

What where your first impressions?

Coming from Verbier, Switzerland it was like going back in time to the stone age (horse & cart).

What draws you to return to Kashmir regularly?

A combination of the powerful mountains drawing me up and the kindly warmth and spirit of the Kashmir peasant farming people.

What was the catalyst for the formation of the New Zealand Ski Club of Kashmir project and your motivation to bring the project to light?

We have so much in our everyday lifestyle at home in NZ that we take for granted. I saw the opportunity to give something to the children of Gulmarg and have now given 4 years of equipment, clothing and business advice which this winter included 8 instructors volunteering their time and energy to teach 120 kashmir children to ski. You will have some nice images of the happiness, pride and achievement felt by these kids, their families (and our NZ Ski Club instructors too).

When did it begin?

When I gave my K2 Seth Morrison skis to Billa.

What does the NZSCK seek to achieve both now and in the future?

Continue with education, equipment, workable business models – I want to add value to Kashmir fruit primary produce by building a co-operative jam and preserved fruit factory. Also build a modern ski resort over on Sunshine side (free enterprise rather than government operated).

How do you view your role in the organization?

I put up ideas from my experience in the western ski industry and discuss with Billa and his father. We are business partners in a company HIMALAYA Adventure Sports Tourism & Helicopters Private (India) Limited which operate a number of small businesses.

Can you describe what it is like to be the head of a volunteer organization in Kashmir?

It cost me personally a lot of money, time and effort. But it is definitely worthwhile when I see the look of delight on kids faces as the do their first descent on gondola phase One and receive their end-of-course certificate of achievement and race through their result for slalom ski race course. I guess I have always been keen to spread the love for skiing.

The volunteers within your team this year are all very interesting and educated people do you play a role in constructing the crew?

With one email to the NZ Ski Instructors Alliance office in Queenstown I had more applicants than I needed. Even though the 8 volunteer instructors at Gulmarg during Jan/Feb 2009 are from many different countries, they all qualified as instructors with the NZSIA.

Do you have any frustrations/ beautiful moments that you can to share?

Powder turns off the 14,000ft summit of Gulmarg (the worlds highest gondola) with two of the instructors Jenny and Jeff during early Jan.

How can people either volunteer either funding or their time to your organization?

Contact martin@sportive.co.nz