Ben is one of only two professional skeleton racers in New Zealand and has spent the past 10 years following the world circuit across North America and Europe. He was helped into the sport by his "crazy uncle" Bruce Sandford, who won a gold medal at the skeleton world championships in 1992.
"I guess I love it. I fell in love with it when I first tried it," Ben told the Rotorua Daily Post.
The natural athlete who stands at 2m tall, was in New Zealand recently, during his off season, visiting friends and family in Rotorua.
Ben said his goal was to be in medal contention on the last day of his event which beings on February 15 with the final run the following day.
The Rotorua athlete has competed at the 2006 Torino Olympics, and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada (finishing 10th and 11th respectively) has skeleton success in the blood - his uncle Bruce was the 1992 world champion.
After completing university, Sandford packed his bags and headed to Europe in 2002 to follow in his uncle's tracks and has been competing ever since.
Ben will have plenty of support in Sochi with his parents and sister Fiona all travelling to Russia to watch him compete.
Fifteen athletes have been named in the New Zealand Olympic Winter Team in snowboard, freeski, alpine skiing, ice speed skating and skeleton.
