Ben Stubenberg / Island Author & Storyteller

 You have probably seen the Disney movie Cool Runnings about the four lovable Jamaicans who audaciously enter the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary as bobsledders. The film was loosely based on the story of the real Jamaican bobsled team that crashed violently on the ice. That disaster should have been the end of their quixotic quest. But it wasn’t! This book tells the true and inspiring story of how the real Jamaican bobsledders clawed their way back from debacle  and, against all odds, emerged to become world-class contenders at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Led by team captain Dudley “Tal” Stokes, the Jamaican bobsledders fought through heartbreaking setbacks and constant doubt before claiming their place as elite Olympians. 

Please see the “New Book” tab for more about the book.

Also, on this website you’ll find my articles about the region’s rich and turbulent past, including fierce female pirates, sunken treasure, African and Indian free divers, walloping hurricanes, the first Columbus landing, whaling, Loyalist plantations, daring slave escapes, and heroic rescues at sea.

And through my postings you’ll get an insider’s look at today’s unfolding stories in Turks & Caicos and Haiti–from the perils of tourism overdevelopment to the disparity between billionaire wealth and underclass despair. From the desperate calculations migrants make to cross the ocean in a crowded sloop to the changing dynamics of gang power. This is my beat where I challenge assumptions, celebrate courage, and spotlight trends. In the end, it’s all about “Who gets a piece of paradise inside the reef.”

Want to add zest to an evening or an event with riveting tales about the islands–including the Jamaican bobsled team with the captain himself? Contact me to book a storytelling hour.

Instagram: benstubenbergstories