Massive surge in skiing interest

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The exploits of Jamaican Olympic skier Errol Kerr at this year's Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, have triggered a massive upsurge in interest around the winter sport and the national ski programme, according to local ski boss Richard Salm.

Salm, president of the Jamaica Ski Federation (JSF), told The Gleaner that he has been flooded with calls and emails from skiers all over the world who have some kind of attachment to the island, expressing a desire to represent the country at international events and ski under the endorsement of the JSF.

"There has been a huge upsurge in interest. We have been getting a lot of emails and calls from people all over the world who are expressing an interest in representing Jamaica," Salm pointed out. "(People from) Germany, Spain, all over - Jamaicans living all over the world have been trying to become part of our programme."

Meanwhile, Kerr, who placed ninth overall in the skicross event at the Vancouver Games, is expected in the island in the middle of July, at which point a reception will be staged in his honour in collaboration with the sports ministry.

The 24 year-old, who was once a member of the US ski team before he decided to represent the country of his father's birth, created quite a stir at the event and continues to have a positive impact on the profile of the sport in the island.

Salm is extremely pleased with the influence that the youngster is having on the sport and believes his continued success will go a long way towards the development of the sport. He also believes that it is very important that the JSF begin to attract more individuals to the sport, especially youngsters.

"It's very encouraging. What we are really short of and what we are trying to build on are up-and-coming youngsters. Errol (Kerr) is very young himself and he probably has three more Olympics left in him, but we need to catch them at 17 years old thereabouts," said Salm.

The administrator, a long-time devotee of the sport, went on to underline the importance of continuation and sustained support for the programme from corporate Jamaica and the Government.

"We are trying to get sponsors to put up like a US$1,000 a month so we can fund the programme through to the next Winter Olympic Games.

"We simply cannot just put our skis back in the closet and say well we'll wait until the year before the next Olympic Games to start getting ready," said Salm. "You have to race consistently at all the major events so that your seeding remains good."