Jamaican Bobsled Team find a new home in Pemberton BC

“I have given them a commitment that we can certainly house them, feed them, and transport them locally and we will put in place what is necessary to do that,” said Ian Porter who owns Copperdome Lodge in the Pemberton valley.

When Porter heard about the Jamaicans’ hope for a new practice base in or near Whistler he decided this was an opportunity that should not be missed.

“I look at as a cool opportunity, have some fun, do something that puts Pemberton on the map and also helps them out,” he said, adding that he hopes to help raise some significant funds for team.

“I don’t think Pemberton is getting a lot of direct benefit from (the 2010 Games) and that is why something like this can help out.”

The team is very serious about competition. It had a 14th place finish in the 4-man event at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games where Jamaica beat the USA and other powerful traditional teams, and was ranked eighth in the sport of bobsleigh in the world; They were the two and four man world push champions in 2000 and 2001; and they gained the Olympic start record in the two man event at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.