Five minutes with British Alpine ski racer, Charlie Raposo

Skiing has always been a part of Charlie Raposo. He first started on the mountains of Verbier when he was just seven, and now, twenty years later at the age of 27, he’s one of the UK’s most talented athletes on the slopes. Great Britain’s highest ranked giant slalom skier, he travels the world every year on the World Cup circuit, in constant pursuit of downhill perfection.

The ‘21-22 season was a standout for Raposo. He scored Britain’s first giant slalom World Cup points in 54 years, while last year saw him achieve his best result yet, finishing 17th in the World Championships in Courchevel. Recognising his rise through the ranks, Knight Frank continues to support him on his journey as one of his lead sponsors. Ahead of the current season, which began in October, we sat down with the London native to discuss his career beginnings, what it takes to get to the top and his hopes for the year ahead.

Where does the passion come from? How did it begin?

I started skiing at the age of seven in Verbier. I actually lost my dad when I was eight. Childhood trauma affects children in a lot of different ways and for me, it was skiing, and then what became ski racing, that just encompassed every bit of my energy. At 10, I had a ski instructor who said, “look, you should probably start ski racing.” I had no idea what ski racing was but that’s where everything just kind of snowballed (if you’ll pardon the pun). I spent one year in France with a British team, two years in Italy with another British team, and then I went to high school in the US.

I did four and a half years there and it was amazing. From there, things moved very quickly. Today, I’m a World Cup skier, which is what I always wanted, but I’ve yet to fulfil my ultimate goal, which is to be on top of the podium. That’s what really counts.

So, how was last season for you?

It was a season of highs and lows. I came into it with a lot of issues with my back. I hadn’t skied for six weeks through September and the beginning of October, which is a long time for that time of the year. The first race is always mid to end of October, so I had the odds stacked against me, but I managed to pull myself through that and wound up having my best World Championship result – and Britain’s best ever giant slalom result – which was 17th place at Courchevel. To be there at that level was really cool.

Sounds like a career highlight, to us?

It was a highlight, but also a big learning curve. I learned a lot about humility last year. It doesn’t matter how good you are, there are always 60, 70 or 80 guys in a World Cup race just as hungry as you. This sport is so highly skilled and with such tight margins. Anthony Joshua has a quote that I love: “Stay Hungry. Stay humble”. It defines everything you have to do, and be, in sport.

You've represented Great Britain competitively for many years now. How special is that for you?

Representing your country never gets old. Funnily enough, it’s something that I probably don’t think about or process enough. You get so wrapped up in your own world and your own level of self-importance that you forget some of the bigger picture. I'm not here to waste time. I’m not here to not achieve what I want to get out of competing at this level. But it’s important to remember why you’re doing it. You’re doing it because you love it, because it’s a passion and you love the training process, you love putting yourself out there and seeing where you stack up. That’s the beauty of it. I think being able to represent your country and also deliver on what you always wanted to do is very special.

What has the start of this season looked like?

Over the summer I was in Switzerland and also a training camp in Argentina, then we started skiing properly in mid-October. The first race is always an anomaly because we’ve got no racing for six weeks afterwards. Everyone comes into it pretty hot and no one’s ever really quite ready. You’ve got to just go out there and give it everything and see where you stack up!

Three chalets to enjoy ski season from