Former DJ Turned Skiier Benjamin Alexander to Make Olympic Debut Subsequent Month – EDM.com
Benjamin Alexander’s choice to place down the decks and decide up the poles has begun to repay.
Alexander, previously a DJ and resident of Burning Man’s iconic Robotic Coronary heart group, made a dramatic life-style change in 2018 when he opted to retire his DJing profession in an effort to concentrate on snowboarding full-time.
After a ski journey in early 2018, Alexander turned consumed with the concept of pursuing the game in knowledgeable capability. After subsequently touring to Pyongyang to view the 2018 Winter Olympics, he set his sights excessive.
“I ended up going to the Winter Olympics in Pyongyang as a spectator and observed that there have been solely three Jamaican athletes, which I used to be shocked by,” Alexander informed Resident Advisor. “The kernel of this concept was fashioned. Perhaps I may fill a spot there.”
Subsequent month, Alexander’s aspirational aim will probably be achieved. He’ll change into the primary athlete to symbolize Jamaica in an Alpine Snowboarding occasion throughout this yr’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“I’ve already acquired my gold medal, my gold medal was qualification,” mentioned Alexander, who impressively certified with out the help of having a full-time snowboarding coach. “And my medal ceremony would be the opening ceremony once I hopefully maintain the flag… I am going up towards individuals who have been snowboarding for 30 years and have had a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} invested into their coaching per yr.”
Alexander considers his qualification an honor of gold medal proportions. For him, the consideration lies in representing his nation and he sees his involvement as a pathway to bringing extra Jamaican athletes into the game.
Alexander will compete within the males’s big slalom occasion in Beijing on February thirteenth.