I NEVER thought that the guy I dated in my early adult years, who was an engineering student at one of the top universities in the world, would end up on another adventure of a lifetime.

Sitting by my laptop and interviewing him about being one of the first black men to represent Jamaica for the Olympics as a professional skier was surreal to say the least. For me, there are two reasons it’s surreal. Firstly, because he is an academic and DJ with no skiing experience. Secondly, because skiing and Jamaica don’t seem to go hand in hand.

Despite this, Benjamin Alexander is annihilating the alps and learning so fast it doesn’t seem new to him at all. I truly believe his name may be on all our lips very soon because he might just make history. 

We need to have this belief everyday. We need to shatter stereotypes and be who we have always wanted to be.

V V Brown

This is a real life Cool Runnings story and it’s spectacular. 

As the conversation opened up, we went beyond his own personal story. It was incredibly enlightening to get a true understanding of how this sport has a real problem with representation. We explored the reasons for the obvious ‘whitewashing.’ 

Memories

I remember skiing as a child with my family. We felt ‘othered’ as we went down the Austrian alps. I remember the cold stares and awkward silences as my siblings and I attended ski school. I felt a deep sense that we did not belong. My personal experiences taught me this industry was very much a club for a certain type.

According to a SnowSports Industries America study, in 2013, black people made up just 7.3% of alpine skiers, while 72% were white. Black people made up a larger percentage of snowboarders at 10.2%, but white people still made up the largest percentage.

Only a small number of individuals such as the ultra-talented American snowboarder Keir Dillon and Ghanaian skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, who  competed at the 2010 Olympics, have made it to the professional leagues, but many have not.

The light through the lens is changing and we can no longer accept dated assumptions. 

V V Brown

Our society serves black people a backdrop that is too often high rise buildings and urban spaces. The open outdoors never seems to align with society’s perceptions of who we are. However, we don’t just exist in urban spaces.

Alongside these stereotypes, our lack of representation in snow sports has been explained by socioeconomics and geography. Colonialism and slavery have not allowed us to accelerate economically in the same way as our white counterparts. City life can often give more social, psychological and financial certainty, thus keeping us away from rural and mountainous environments. 

Skiing and snowboarding are not cheap sports. Many live close to the mountains to pursue them. These are usually expensive areas.

Out of urban spaces

However, things are evolving and the modern black community has a growing middle class that are looking for new experiences to spend their time and money on. The light through the lens is changing and we can no longer accept dated assumptions. 

Advertisements and brands play a huge role in perpetuating stereotypes. Most winter sport adverts only feature white men, women and children. The idea of seeing a black family with ski goggles on a billboard, as you enjoy a seat on your ski line, may seem preposterous to most. Winter sports should be for the world stage not just aimed at a fraction of it.

I conducted my own informal research and 78% of the people I spoke to said they didn’t think black people liked winter sports. It made me think that perhaps we take on the stereotypes served to us. Let’s not forget, there are other sports such as tennis and golf that have been targeted at white audiences. Those stereotypes were soon shattered by our communities talents. We went on to be the best players in the world, with athletes like Serena William and Tiger Woods.

Schine Malliet is a gentleman in the American winter sports community who is trying to help children of colour engage and compete in winter sports. It would be fantastic for others to try and shatter stereotypes so we can show our children that the skies are truly their limits. 

Motivated

As I continued my conversation with Benjamin Alexander, his passion and drive was infectious. His overwhelming pride for his Jamaican roots, despite being born in the UK, as a mixed race man, was wonderful.

His story alone, whether he wins an Olympic medal or not, is a lesson for us all. I was inspired and empowered by his desire to conquer and break down stereotypes.

I finished our chat with a step, hop and a leap despite facing my own challenges and fears as a black person in society. I realised there are so many rules holding us back, telling us we are not meant to do or be those kind of people, whatever that means. 

Benjamin Alexander is a hero. As he told me how he would walk for hours to climb up a huge mountain with strength and courage, then glide down with the belief that all was available to him, it made me think. 

We need to have this belief everyday. We need to shatter stereotypes and be who we have always wanted to be. In the case of Benjamin Alexander, that’s the Jamaican Olympic skiing champion. 

Follow Benjamin Alexander and his story here.

VV Brown has sold over a million records worldwide, and has a career that spans over 15 years. She has written for The Guardian and other national newspapers and also produces her own podcast called Songs Of Triumph. Not only has she had cheeseburgers with Stevie Wonder, and performed with Grace Jones, she has also modelled for fashion chain Marks and Spencers. Her goal is to live a simple life with extraordinary experiences.