Sharpe has been snowboarding since the age of two – his ability soon became so evident that the family were advised to allow him to snowboard for a full season, rather than a week’s holiday a year.
“We were told he had a gift and to give him a chance,” James said, so they made the decision to support him and moved the family to France for the winter.
“He excelled faster than anyone expected. He is obsessed with it,” James added.
He competed on the Swiss tour aged eight and won every competition in the under-11s category against other international snowboarders. This season, Sharpe claimed the under-12 title at the World Rookie Tour finals in Kaprun and is leading the Ziller Valley Rally – also in Austria – with one event to go.
John Weatherley, who coaches him alongside Barry Parker, said: “You can tell he’s special. He’s got a lot of style and is like a sponge when he’s learning anything new.”
To aid his training, the family are building a rail park at their property in the French ski resort of Avoriaz and split the winter season between France and the United States, where mum Jennifer was born.
“We were just casual snowboarders,” Jennifer said. “Now we chase the snow across the world!”
In the summer months, the family are back in Nantwich in Cheshire and Sharpe trains at the Chill Factore in Manchester and Tamworth Snowdome.
Brookes and her family live 10 miles away and Mia’s mum Vicky has been advising the Sharpes on the number of competitions he should enter at his age – as well as keeping snowboarding fun.
Sharpe and Brookes, 18, have ridden together a number of times. Jennifer said: “She’s really good with him and understands because she’s been on the same journey.”
Although Sharpe is eager to progress to major competitions as soon as possible, he will have to wait until he is 15 for World Cup events, and 16 for the Winter Olympics, which would mean being eligible for the 2034 Games.
There is no minimum age for the X Games, however, which is by invitation.
“Nothing scares me,” Sharpe said. “I can’t wait for next season already. I want to keep pushing and showing what I can do.”
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