“These guys are professionals. They make their living by doing this and they’ve been doing this forever… But mentally, I think I’m far ahead of them, to be honest. Being a father, being married, being a superintendent of 150 units in Brooklyn, New York, that mentally gives me a big old advantage. I mean, for Christ’s sake I’m down in a big old Brooklyn basement.

• To read our full feature interview with Besnik Sokoli now on Mpora click here

“Do I think I have a chance? I’m not oblivious. I don’t think I have a chance to win it. But you never know, that’s my competitive side that kicks in. You never know.”

Though Besnik has only recently taken up competitive skiing, he actually spent much of his childhood on skis. He first started when he was three years old, and skied right up until he was 16 or 17.

He is a war refugee from Kosovo, and arrived in the United States in 1999, though by his thick Brooklyn accent you’d guess that he’d been there his entire life.

The superintendent is currently financing all of his travels and equipment himself, along with his wife. It’s an amazing dream, a great story, and one that we hope ultimately leads him to South Korea in February of next year.

“If someone would have thought it was a crazy idea I would say they’re not living,” he concludes his chat with SWJ. “They’re not living at all. If you’re not going to do anything like this then where’s the fun in life.”

Agreed Besnik. Best of luck!