By: Charlie Jackson
![(l-r) BVIOC executive officer, Cleave Farrington, BVI Ski Association president, Barny Crook, BVIOC president, Ephraim Penn, the [British] Virgin Islands' newest Olympian, Peter Adam Crook, and BVIOC secretary general, Lloyd Black.](http://bviolympics.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0039.jpg)
(l-r) BVIOC executive officer, Cleave Farrington, BVI Ski Association president, Barny Crook, BVIOC president, Ephraim Penn, the [British] Virgin Islands’ newest Olympian, Peter Adam Crook, and BVIOC secretary general, Lloyd Black.
Crook, who was born in the Territory, will be just 21 when he takes to the slopes in his favoured event, the Half Pipe, at the Sochi Games. In doing so, he will be joining the late Speed Skater Errol Frazer, as a Winter Olympian.
Ephraim Penn, the BVI Olympic Committee president, welcomed Crook to the fold of Olympians acknowledging that Crook had worked hard to achieve his goal and had the full support of the BVIOC.
“We have no doubt Adam is a top class performer in his chosen sport and has earned the right to attend the games,” stated Penn. “When the BVI Ski Association first approached us (the BVIOC) we were surprised and went through a lot of back and forth discussion before they achieved sanctions from both us and the International Skiing Federation,” he continued. “Today is a proud moment, not only for Adam, but also every BVIslander who deserves the chance to reach the highest levels of competition and become an elite athlete.”
According to Barney Crook, the BVI Ski Association president and Adam’s father, those discussions began back in 2010 when it became apparent that his son had the ability and skill in the Half Pipe to make it to the top. “Like with any kid, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, you want to do the best for them,” he said.
Crook went to Cedar School before moving to the USA in 2001 and spent his early years enjoying Sailing, Surfing and Paddle Boarding in the balmy Caribbean waters that surround his homeland. The move north obviously exposed him to a colder climate and he had to swap water for snow.
Despite an obvious talent, Crook has had to work hard to compete at various events throughout the USA and other global events. He started with trampolines, bounced off a few roofs and walls, progressed to water slides, and then strapped on the ski’s to take to the slopes.
His highest finish is a second place, but the two events that mattered most, a World Cup competition in Oslo and another in New Zealand, where he finished 14th and 10th respectively, were the ones that have put him firmly on the radar and on the plane to Sochi.
“I just want to make the BVI proud, push hard and compete at my highest level,” he said.
Crook has another three events planned before Sochi: Grand Prix’s at Copper Mountain, North Star and Park City, which is now his home base.
As for what the VI can expect from its newest Olympian, Crook said he is conscious of injury so maybe he won’t try to adjust his five favourite skills too much. “I want to add some more “doubles” into my repertoire for Sochi,” he stated. “But one of the skills that I always include is a cork 1080.”
He describes that as one flip and 3 spins with a tail grab (holding onto the skis) and don’t forget that is all done at high speed racing down a 500 ft length of curved snow and ice!
His appearance at the Games will undoubtedly get the world in a spin and probably cause some interest as the Jamaican Bob Sleigh team from all those years ago, but Crook takes it all in his stride as anyone willing to perform the various spins, twists and upside down turns would assuredly do.
