Professional skiers Ahmet, 27, and Giray Dadali, 25, have appeared in numerous magazines, web features and ski films. In 2011, Powder Magazine awarded Ahmet Breakthrough Performer and Best Jib. They don’t usually talk about their faith but in light of the recent anti-Muslim rhetoric assaulting the country, they have decided to talk candidly with Vice News.
“There is mass Islamophobia that has been planted throughout this country, and its extremely unwarranted,” says Ahmet. “I’ve grown up around Muslims all my life, and I’ll tell you they accept you into their houses a lot more kindly than any of the other people I’ve been around.”
“Most people in freeskiing are very open people, and I’d like to imagine the same with most extreme sports,” Ahmet continues. “We are not sucked into the politics that are killing the world’s acceptance. We are sucked into what makes us happy and typically that doesn’t include racism.”
