He admits it’s a little far-fetched.
But in a story similar to the plot of 1993 film Cool Runnings, former-rugby league player Andrew Farrell has a serious goal.
He wants to represent Jamaica at skiing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The 46-year-old from Huddersfield, who has Jamaican citizenship, said he was inspired to take up the sport after watching his compatriot’s efforts to qualify for the 2014 event in Sochi.
He said: “ I thought ‘I do not ski too badly myself’ and it just started to spawn from there.”
Farrell is best known for his rugby-playing days with Huddersfield clubs and latterly for his achievements in mixed martial arts.
He coaches the sport in Milnsbridge and has won a number of awards.
But his new passion is on skis and he is a regular at the Xscape indoor ski centre at Castleford.
And even though he doesn’t own his own skis, he has set his sights on a place in the plane to South Korea in three years time.
“I’ve been skiing for about four years and people have said I am pretty good at it. This isn’t a whim: I think I could compete.
“There is a project to allow developing countries to enter the Olympics and I have been in touch with the Jamaican Ski federation to see how feasible it is.
“I specialise in the giant slalom and I have taken part in competitions in France and managed to get within three seconds of the qualifying time. I know that sounds a lot but I believe if I get the backing I can improve dramatically.
“The only way I am going to be able to do that is to find sponsorship and I hope people will like the idea.
“My wife has skied for years and we have taken trips to the Alps. I seem to have the natural balance and rhythm that makes a good skier and people have said I have the technique.
“A lot of people think it’s a joke but I’m deadly serious. I hope I can raise my profile and get the backing I need”.
Farrell is confident that even in his 40s, he can compete. He takes part in martial arts bouts with young men in their 20s and is capable of beating many of them.
Farrell can be contacted via his website.
FACTFILE
- Cool Runnings was a film directed by Jon Turtellaub
- It was released in October 1993 to rave reviews
- The film is loosely based on the Jamaican bobsleigh team’s entry into the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada
- One of the stars was John Candy, who sadly died six months after its release
- It spawned a hit record for Jimmy Cliff with his cover of I Can See Clearly Now
