Blog

Be As Clean As You Can and Look Good — stay away from drugs, alcohol, negative influences, and potentially bad situations. My dad kept me out of trouble in the most dangerous city in Morocco by putting in sport, so I would avoid all negative possibilities.

Is the American Dream still alive? If you speak to many of the immigrants we spoke to, who came to this country with nothing but grit, resilience, and a dream, they will tell you that it certainly is still alive.

As a part of our series about immigrant success stories, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mouad Salhi.

Mouad (Mo) is a 33 year old professional jet ski rider who was born and raised in Rabat, Morocco. Mo is the 1st Moroccan, Arab, North African in the sport. From 2002–2008, Mo dominated the waters representing his home country before leaving and making his way to bigger and better opportunities, or so he thought. His road was not easy, and he had to give up his profession for over a decade before resurrecting his racing career in 2019, in the United States. https://www.instagram.com/mouadsalhiofficial/

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in a working middle class family in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and where the royal family resides. From a young age, my father put me in sports, like swimming, martial arts, and tennis. Our family was attached to the water, my grandfather and father worked on the water. One day, I saw jet skis running along the shore line and became obsessed. There was a new racing club that was organizing kids and adults to start racing. For several months, I paid and trained with the club on how to ride and race. When I was 12, the club was competing in the European Championships. Originally, I was there as a spectator and to experience the energy and culture of high performance racing. When we arrived, there was an extra jet ski. The club president put me on the back of it and said go have fun, thinking it was good experience. Little did we know I would win my race, and be the only rider to bring home a title — Junior European Champion. From there, I grew to be the biggest name in Moroccan jet ski racing.

Was there a particular trigger point that made you emigrate to the US? Can you tell us the story?

When I was 18 I achieved multiple titles, trophies, completed around the world, but I wasn’t making any money to survive on my own. My parents still had to support me. The club became the main racing federation with a few people dictating how money came in and went out. All the money I won went into their pockets, not mine. All endorsements and sponsorship funding went to building homes, or buying luxury cars for the federation leadership. The federation leaders were right-hand men to the King of Morocco, so I didn’t say anything. My name was the biggest in the sport, but my pockets were empty. One night after my 2008 season, my dad sat me down with my mom and we had a heart-to-heart conversation about my career. He opened my eyes to the inequality and need to go for larger opportunities. Morocco was no longer an option for racing or finding a good paying job. I had to leave to continue my career. That night, in secrecy, I took only a backpack, kissed my mom good bye, and took the train with my dad to Tangier. My dad sent me off to Spain, by boat, as he traveled back to Rabat. I was so naive and unaware of how the real world worked when I arrived in Algeciras, Spain.

Can you tell us the story of how you came to the USA? What was that experience like?

Once I arrived in Spain, I made my way to France where my uncle and his family said they would help. That help only lasted so long. They kicked me out of the house while I worked construction jobs and called my connections in the sport, hopeful to link up with a team. I moved around a lot, lived on the streets homeless a few times, went hungry many nights hoping for my connections to bring about an opportunity to race. My last stop in Europe before arriving in the States, was Brussels, Belgium. I lived in the attic of another Moroccan family. They ultimately connected me with an Egyptian business owner in Pennsylvania. They explained that he had several restaurants and was going to pick me up and take me in. I thought I was going to be working in a nice place, which was not the case. Everything was going well until my flight arrived in New York. My Egyptian contact ghosted me. I sat in the airport with no ride, no idea where to go, and no options. After a half a day of waiting in the airport, I took a cab, which tried ripping me off, to Times Square. The cab driver tried telling me my ride was over 300 dollars, a total scam with no meter, and he dumped me at the curb when I offered to pay less. I was lost completely on what to do, where to go. I felt like I had been dropped in a whole new world. I finally got a call from the Egyptian entrepreneur while roaming the city. He told me I had to make my way to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and meet him at the train station. So I made my way, by several trains, to Lancaster. This guy was waiting for me at the station and asked if I was hungry, I said yes and he took me to a diner. The Egyptian was not an upscale restaurateur; he was just renting one diner. He fed me and said I was going to work at the diner, managing the place, and will be living with a guy who was a server at the diner. The next day, I showed up in my best clothes and was thrown a mop, broom, and potato peeler. I was told I was the new dish washer, not manager. I had to work my way up through the restaurant which I did, learning to cook. And that skill was the most important lesson to get up and going in the US.

Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped make the move more manageable? Can you share a story?

The chef at the diner, Khalid Abulenin, was my biggest advocate. He said I was too young and clean cut to be just a dish washer. After a few months of working at the diner, he took me under his wing as his unpaid apprentice. I would work in the morning from 6 o’clock to Noon, and then I would start my afternoon shift as a dish washer from 2:00pm — 11:00pm. Within a week, I was promoted to line cook. That afforded me more money and movement to grow within the diner, eventually becoming a cook at one of the most desirable chef jobs in Lancaster County, the Lyndon City Diner. Without Khalid, I would have known nothing and been taken advantage of. Khalid was my bodyguard/father figure in the US.

So how are things going today?

Things are looking better. I relocated to Florida in 2013. Thanks to my ex-girlfriend, Nicole, I started racing again in 2019 after working hard and saving money. I work in the marine industry as a jet ski technician. I am raising my six year old son to love the sport as much as I do. Though I am still struggling to re-establish my racing career with acquiring sponsors, I am grateful that I am a 2021 P1AquaX Ambassador for the sport. The P1AquaX is the largest jet ski racing circuit in the world, and I am proud to represent the United States.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I occasionally teach children back in Morocco about the sport. My goal is to start a non-profit in the near future to teach kids from all backgrounds how to ride jet skis and race high performance jet skis. I want to bring more people into this fun and exciting sport. I also am working towards building a racing team, 915 Motorsports, that will feature minority and inspirational rider/drivers across multiple motorsports.

You have first hand experience with the US immigration system. If you had the power, which three things would you suggest to improve the system?

In my opinion, the abuse of immigrants is very real. If people are contributing to society with working and paying taxes, let them have a pathway to citizenship. When people hide their immigration status, greedy employers will exploit those workers. Secondly, due to the ignorance of immigrants, we don’t know what our rights are. I personally didn’t know about employment rights or if I was permitted to ask for time off, or get a lunch break. Immigrants should have easy access to advocates that can explain their rights or petition on their behalf. The thought of paying an attorney or completing paperwork is a scary thought when you have no money or think you have no rights. Thirdly, I would make a law that immigration reform cannot be changed through each political administration. Laws change too frequently and enforcement is inconsistent. I suggest reviewing immigration policy every ten years, just like the census. The movement of citizens and immigrants will influence change in legislation.

Can you share “5 keys to achieving the American dream” that others can learn from you? Please share a story or example for each.

1. Consistency –keep moving forward with what you want in life. Don’t change who you are to appease others, you have to keep true to who you are.
2. Be As Clean As You Can and Look Good — stay away from drugs, alcohol, negative influences, and potentially bad situations. My dad kept me out of trouble in the most dangerous city in Morocco by putting in sport, so I would avoid all negative possibilities.
3. Kill Your Enemy/Haters with Your Success — you don’t give your attention, energy, or time to those who don’t want you to succeed. Let them read about your successes, that’s how your reply to them.
4. Trust Yourself and Your Shadow — the world is full of opaque people, those who are hiding things. You have to always keep your guard up. Why? Because, you don’t want to wait till something happens and have regrets. We know there are up and downs in life, but keep going up by controlling the downs. This has been my experience.
5. Love and Respect Your Parents, No Matter What — I’m going to keep this short and sweet. There is a saying in Morocco, ‘terf del kebda,’ a piece of my liver. The parents give a part of their liver to their child, meaning the child cannot live without their parents. Being a father myself, it made me realize the importance of having your parents.

We know that the US needs improvement. But are there 3 things that make you optimistic about the US’s future?

1. The Biden Administration’s reversal of the Muslim ban legislation was a major change. As a Muslim, it disheartened me when fellow brothers and sisters were targeted in bigoted opinions. It affected students, green card and legal visa holders, and others just looking to come for opportunity. Having people from a variety of backgrounds makes us, the United States, better. I look forward to seeing families reunited and be able to travel again without fear of being rejected at the border.
2. With COVID, outdoor sports became popular. The jet ski industry has seen a major boom in personal watercraft ownership. It’s difficult for racers to get new jet skis at this time because manufacturers are on back order. I see growth within the industry and sport as we start the season up again in mid-April.
3. I have to say, living in Tampa Bay (Champa Bay), I’m most hopeful about our growing popularity and sport titles. This area is full of champions, and athletes that flock to Florida for off-season training and residence. I think this energy and excitement will continue for years to come, including an improved economy and vacation desirability, along with my successes to be added in the ‘Champa Bay’ legacy.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

I would love to have a private lunch with the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI. I would love for the King to recognize what I’ve done for the sport and country since 2002, and what I’ve been through. I was the 1st Moroccan, Arab, North African in the sport, along with being the 1st Moroccan to raise the flag in the Bahamas at the World Finals, the 1st Moroccan to race P1AquaX and win one of the toughest races in the circuit, the 1st Moroccan who won the first jet ski title… and I would go on, but it’s a lengthy resume. The King is the biggest supporter of the sport, it’s his favorite sport, and the most popular sport in the country. I need the recognition and support of him and my homeland to feel restored and whole after leaving Morocco the way I did.

What is the best way our readers can further follow your work online?

If people would like to help fund my racing season, I have a crowd funding site, https://sportfunder.com/mouadsalhi. People can also follow me on social media with Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at the handle @mouadsalhiofficial. I love connecting with fans and creating awesome content about jet ski racing.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Source : Thrive Global

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/mouad-salhi-be-as-clean-as-you-can-and-look-good/amp/

“It’s all about respect … I’m not going there looking to hurt someone, that’s not my mindset. My mindset is to show them that I’m not afraid of anybody. In a race, if you come close to me, I’ll do whatever it takes for me to win. I’m not going to just let you pass just because I’m afraid of you.”

Jet ski racing has been Mouad Salhi’s passion from a young age. He’s stuck with the sport for years despite the costs, both financially and in the form of injury.

When you’re maneuvering large, heavy vehicles across the water at high speed, you’re bound to get hurt, Mo says—and he’s experienced some serious crashes. But to him, it’s all part of the sport he loves, and has excelled at (he’s claimed world, U.S., and 3 European championships, among other accolades).

In this week’s show, he describes how he redirects emotions like fear and anger into a bold racing style—which, while it seems risky, is actually part of a strategy for staying safer. He also shares some of the other struggles and setbacks of a solo rider in an expensive sport, and how much support means to him along the way.

Note: Because of an equipment problem, Mo didn’t race April 17 after all, as discussed in this episode. His first competition back for the season is May 1, in Kissimmee, Florida—check his Instagram and YouTube channel for updates!

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this episode: Fluid Running and 2Toms. Fluid Running makes it possible to maintain your peak physical fitness even when you’re injured through the power of deep water running. And 2Toms provides advanced sweat proof, waterproof blister and chafing protection products that keep you moving. Listen for special discount codes in the episode!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Some of the basics of jet ski racing (5:34)
• How injury is viewed in the sport (7:35)
• His experiences with injuries—including serious crashes (8:48)
• How he’s learned to manage his fear to dominate on the water (13:17)
• The knee injury he’s currently rehabbing, and how jet ski racing involves strength and endurance through his whole body (18:27)
• Financial issues, and how they play a role in succeeding in the sport and recovering from injury (23:17)
• How representing an entire country adds to the pressure (30:17)
• What it was like to come back after his most serious crash (34:45)
• How it feels to now race for a new country, the United States (38:25)
• What it took to come back to the sport after an 11-year break (39:01)
• His best advice for other injured athletes (42:15)

You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.

Resources/links:

• Mo’s Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• His fundraising page
• P1 AquaX, the jet ski racing series

To access more resources for injured athletes:

• Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
• Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
• Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
• Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.

Check out this episode!

Source : Injured Athletes Club

https://injuredathletesclub.com/2021/04/22/43-jet-ski-racer-mouad-salhi-channeling-your-fear/amp/

Mouad Salhi, né en 1987 à Rabat, est le premier Africain et Arabe à avoir décroché en 2003 le podium du championnat d’Europe de jet-ski. Il fait profiter les jeunes de son expérience.

Mouad Salhi n’est pas tombé du ciel comme on dit. Mais plutôt remonté de mer. Sa passion pour le jet-ski, loin d’être anodine, se tisse de liens qui l’affilie au père d’abord, au grand-père après. Ce dernier fut réparateur de bateaux portugais, puis français à Bouregreg. Vint le père, qui, lui, était responsable des phares à Sidi Abd. C’est ici qu’à 12 ans, il fut épris de cette machine qui vrombit, pique du nez en laissant des sillons derrière elle et qu’on appelle le jet-ski. L’enfant émerveillé, scotché en observateur, s’écarquillait les yeux devant ces jets d’eau, ces manèges et cette habileté du conducteur qu’il envie à s’en mordre les doigts.

Un champion mal accompagné

L’obsession a pris. Souvent il accompagnait son père pour se rêver aux commandes de l’engin. Il ne fallut que peu, à 13 ans juste, pour que Mouad rejoigne à coeur joie l’association de jet-ski de Bouregreg. Ceci eut lieu en 2003, et grâce à un proche qui en fut le président. Le féru de la mécanique se montra discipliné et habile dès les premiers tours de pistes, tout lui allait comme un gant. Preuve en est qu’il ne fallut que sept mois pour qu’il soit poussé à prendre part à une compétition nationale.

Le petit champion décrocha alors le podium. Preuve faite, il fut propulsé, ayant à lui la confiance des siens, pour concourir, la même année, au championnat d’Europe. Là où les Marocains furent à la traîne, rasant à peine la dixième place, lui, et le moment est digne de rappel, monta sur le podium. Encore nous dit-il, que comme première étape, qui fut le Portugal, il n’avait à sa disposition qu’un jet-ski standard, loin de ceux préparés pour ce faire. Etonné, le président lui remit un jet de compétition qui le qualifia troisième à l’issu de ce championnat. De retour au Maroc, une coupe lui fut remise. Ainsi futil le premier champion africain et arabe ayant remporté un championnat d’Europe. Une belle publicité pour le pays. Il finit deuxième en Belgique puis en Italie, c’est en France qu’il ne put jouer car il n’avait pas ses 16 ans. Celui qui finit troisième fit le tour l’année courante de quasi toutes les chaînes influentes pour ne citer que TV5, Al Jazeera, ou Euronews. L’adolescent, comme il se toise lui-même, se sentit dépassé par les lumières qui fusaient sur lui.

Une réelle persévérance
A cela il nous dit «seule la passion m’aiguillonnait, j’ignorais jusqu’à mes adversaires». et de rajouter «beaucoup se trompent, un championnat d’Europe est bien plus ardu qu’un championnat du monde, il ne se fait pas en un jour, et par là, requiert une réelle persévérance». C’est en son nom qu’on quémanda la création de la fédération royale de Jet Ski, en 2004, on lui soumet la proposition de faire fi de ses études pour se donner avec plus de fougue à sa carrière.

Proposition acceptée mais qui fit vite de tourner aux déboires, car en 2006, le jeune d’alors 16 ans quitta la fédération qu’il dit accorder une piètre attention à former comme il se doit, en sus de ça, aucun programme d’entraînement à l’appui, des jets qui laissent à désirer, et pas de salaire. En 2007 il fut appelé pour rejoindre à nouveau les rangs, sous le coaching de Laurent Boucher, il fut choisi, pour un nouveau championnat d’Europe, il finit quatrième après avoir manqué une manche.

En 2008, sous les commandes d’un entraîneur belge qu’il dit n’avoir jamais vu il fit l’Autriche, puis l’Arizona des Etatsunis. Il finit 8ème pour un championnat du monde. En 2009, il quitta le Maroc pour les Etats-unis en reprochant à la fédération de ne pas l’aider assez. Avril 2018, Mouad Salhi est rentré au pays dispenser des stages aux enfants de l’association de Jet-ski de Salé. Ce sport le prend toujours aux tripes.

Source : MarocHebdo

https://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/mouad-salhi-marocain-champion-deurope-de-jet-ski