Errol Kerr:The flying human
Published:Sunday | June 2, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Off the beaten track: Jamaicans on the slopes
The world
knows that, anything we Jamaicans do, we do big. And we're never afraid
to step boldly into unfamiliar territory. Sure, we dominate sprints and
have produced legends in cricket. Well, our sights are also set on other
arenas. This week and next, Outlook shines the
spotlight on fearless Jamaicans making strides in unconventional
activities. From climbing Mount Everest to racing down fearsome slopes,
these Jamaicans prove that, no matter the challenge, the Jamaican spirit
will overcome. Read on to be inspired.
Errol Kerr is the embodiment of the the popular Jamaican saying, 'Wi likkle but wi tallawa'. Kerr went against the odds by taking up skiing, and demonstrated again to the world that there is nothing a Jamaican can't do. Kerr left his mark on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a feat that has inspired other athletes such as Michael Williams to join the Jamaica Ski Team, which could just prove to be the beginning of a new era of Jamaicans on the slopes.
Many people quite understandably marvel at this Jamaica-born athlete's interest in skiing. What they might not realise is that Kerr started skiing at the age of four, as his mother's side of the family loved the sport.
"Originally, I made the United States ski team, from the age of 16. However, it had always been my dream to represent Jamaica in the Winter Olympics. The first time I skied for Jamaica would have been 2008-2009 and it was something I always dreamed of doing. I was finally doing it and thought, 'Wow, this is all becoming a reality,'" Kerr told Outlook.
He notes that skiing has given him a whole new sense of freedom.
"Man has always dreamt of flight and, once you put on a pair of skis and you're gliding down a mountain at a speed of 80 to 90 miles with no motor, you feel quite a rush. It feels as close as I can get as a human to flying," Kerr said.
Another dream come true was his participation in the 2010 Olympics. "The Olympics was amazing! When you spend your whole life working for something and then you finally get there, and you prepared so much that it felt like another day at the office, being a part of a competition that you've always dreamt of winning, it's a great feeling," he adds.
Kerr placed ninth at the Games, and said this gave him mixed feelings. Sure, he was happy with the placement, but he also had hoped to do better.
Unfortunately, he didn't get another shot to better the result, since funding issues got in the way after the Olympics.
"We didn't have enough money to pay the coach. You are looking at around US$200,000 a year to keep a programme like that going. I went and started working in a different industry, so there are other people taking up the flag. I hope that somebody will pick up the trail I left off and take it to the top," Kerr said.
So, has the world seen all it will of Kerr?
"If there was funding it would be difficult to qualify for the Olympics next year, because I would have to be in the top 35 in the world and I don't even have a world ranking anymore. There are a few races around the world before the Olympics, so I would have to do really well. It would be a long shot but, hey, anything could happen," he said.