Luke Waters reports.
Styling the slopes of Victoria's Mount Buller, Johan Goutt is a young man on a mission to become East Timor's first winter Olympian.
It's clear he's comfortable in the Buller powder - his current training base - but this 19 year old has lived life in two worlds.
"I have a French side in Europe - cold weather and skiing part - and a Timorese side, a very unified country."
There, the mercury hovers in the 30s and humidity is high.
His parents fled persecution in the 70s, first to Australia in what's become familiar circumstances.
"A fishing boat that normally allowed about 50 people and there were 800 on the boat."
Johan was born in his father's native France where he took to the snow and competed successfully as an elite junior.
But his passion for his other homeland is intense and his objectives profound.
"To change the point of view of the world. The world basically when they hear about East Timor they think about the war .. they think about the politics and the bad managing of the country."
Already there are comparisons to the 90s cult-film "Cool Runnings", the unlikely story of Jamacan bob-sledders who made it to the Calgary Winter Olympics.
He's qualified for the International Ski Federation slalom races and in doing so is a real chance of becoming the tiny nation's first winter Olympics hero.
"It's really deep into my heart to represent East Timor in the next Olympic Games - East Timor is helping to fulfil my dream."
