The Jamaican bobsled team is well known, but have you heard about the Jamaican alpine skier.
Meet Benjamin Alexander who has a similar story to the Jamaican bobsled Olympians. It was only six years ago that Alexander put on a pair of skis for the first time. In a few days he will race in the giant Slalom event to be Jamaica’s inaugural alpine skier in the Olympics
Additionally, to make the feat even more remarkable, he is a ripe 38 years old.
In 2015, his journey to Beijing started on Canadian soil.
Alexander took a Whistler ski lesson and was able to hit the slopes the following year. No wonder he’s hooked.
I fell 27 times
He told BuzzFeed, “After the lesson I decided to go alone and see what my potential was.” “That was my first attempt, and I fell 27 times as I went down the hill. Many people would have given up by that point.”
This is pure perseverance. But the fact that he was falling into the soft, fluffy west coast “pow”, on one of the most beautiful hills on Earth must have softened his blow. Alexander persevered with the goal of falling fewer times than his previous runs each time he ran up the slope.
Benjamin Alexander decided to give up deejaying to ski full time
By 2018, he was ready for competition and Alexander, who was a former DJ and a resident of Burning Man’s famous Robot Heart community, made a drastic lifestyle change. He decided to stop DJing to pursue full-time skiing.
Alexander, a Jamaican-born child of a Jamaican father and a British mother, set out on a mission to get to the Winter Games. First, he moved to B.C. and then to Wyoming.
He’s now the 15th Jamaican Winter Olympian.
Alexander is not only a champion on the slopes but also a trailblazer for the beautiful tropical island of Jamaica.
“I hope that 30 years from now we will look back and say, ‘Yeah that guy started it. And Jamaica has had great alpine skiers ever since.” He said, “That’s what I want it to be about.”
“After the Olympics my goal is to be the president of Jamaica’s Ski Federation and really build a camp. … I would like to attend many more Olympics, but not in a race gear, but in a business suit. That’s why I’m so excited to start that legacy.”
Let us all cheer on Benjamin Alexander as we celebrate our country’s great accomplishments while we approach Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence.
Most People only get 5 out of 7 on this Jamaica Quiz. Test Your Skill
There were three skiers before him to represent Jamaica the last was Errol Kerr who came ninth in the Skicross at the Olympics.He could not continue because lacked sponsorship. Jamaica will be competing in Winter Special Olympics USA this for the first time .They have participated in the Winter Special Olympics on many occasions and garnered many medals
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