Down by the Old Apple Tree

Applying the vivid metaphor of Fire on Ice author Nelson Chris Stokes begins his account of the Jamaica Bobsleigh Team citing its spectacular crash at the 1988 Calgary Olympics to its triumphs across world competition. Once a novelty portrayed in the motion picture Cool Runnings the team has become a phenomenon quite unlike any other sporting enterprise prompting journalists and sports historians to rave about its indomitable spirit its uncanny survival its crowd-pleasing collective personae. All this is recorded in Cool Runnings and Beyond: The Story of the Jamaica Bobsleigh Team where team member Stokes describes how once kindled this little flame called Jamaica Bobsleigh refused to sputter but flared like its Olympic counterpart. First dismissed as a gimmick when it burst on the scene at the Calgary Games Jamaica Bobsleigh began to truly compete and the world began taking measure. These islanders from the tropics proved they could race on ice and if given enough practice funds and support they might become medal contenders. Now president of the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation Chris Stokes provides two narratives from his experience as an Olympian and a member of the world bobsleighing community. One details the personalities those grinding training regimens and the raw hopes and fears disasters and determination found behind the familiar media images. Drawing from his experience within the fluid and dynamic demands of marketing Jamaica Bobsleigh Chris also provides lessons for fundraising building a vibrant and visionary business and for those who would seek personal growth in context of teamwork.