British Bobsleigh Association
...nothing was going to dampen the high spirits of the Team
04 February 2006
Day 1: Saturday 4th February
The Team, coaches and support staff have all made it to St Moritz - albeit slightly delayed after a few mishaps
(Daily Reports courtesy of The Winter Sports Agency)
After a very early start on Saturday - well 6am is very early to Jackie - the Team, coaches and support staff have all made it to St Moritz - albeit slightly delayed after a few mishaps.
Firstly the van was stopped on the motorway by the police for being overweight. After some bartering and the exchange of a fine the van was allowed to go on. The lads were nervous about having problems at the Swiss border but that part of the trip was to pass without incident.
Meanwhile the Team arrived in Torino to pick up the two 9-seaters, their accreditations and most importantly Shiner, Carl and Marcus were met by BOA staff to be given their Olympic kit. They were trying their best to hide their excitement. After much signing of forms they set off on the 4 hour drive to St Moritz. About 2 miles down the road Team Manager Tom De La Hunty stopped the convoy to check if the vans had winter tyres. On inspection he found that they had only summer slicks!! Back they went to the airport to complain, where they were issued with snow chains and informed that they "don't do winter tyres" in Italy!
This time they set off to a chorus of complaints about hunger. The first motorway service station only served snacks. A disgruntled bunch then piled back into the vehicles in search of food. They eventually found a Burger King (staple diet of most bobbers) which eventually stopped them moaning.
When they finally got moving again Tom missed his turning and gave the boys a good sightseeing tour of northern Italy. The boys arrived at the hotel hours after everybody else, and just after the girls had unloaded all of their bags and put them in their rooms for them. Jackie smelt a rat, but nothing was going to dampen the high spirits of the Team.
Shiner and Dan did some easy strides and stretches together. Then Shiner opened his kit bag and felt just like a child at Christmas. Dan says it's a great hotel and great food so he's happy.
Jackie agrees that the hotel is a cut above the places they usually frequent. She's particularly pleased that there is a wireless Internet connection and says that everyone has been using their "fantastic new computers".
After a quiet beer they bedded down for the night.
After a very early start on Saturday - well 6am is very early to Jackie - the Team, coaches and support staff have all made it to St Moritz - albeit slightly delayed after a few mishaps.
Firstly the van was stopped on the motorway by the police for being overweight. After some bartering and the exchange of a fine the van was allowed to go on. The lads were nervous about having problems at the Swiss border but that part of the trip was to pass without incident.
Meanwhile the Team arrived in Torino to pick up the two 9-seaters, their accreditations and most importantly Shiner, Carl and Marcus were met by BOA staff to be given their Olympic kit. They were trying their best to hide their excitement. After much signing of forms they set off on the 4 hour drive to St Moritz. About 2 miles down the road Team Manager Tom De La Hunty stopped the convoy to check if the vans had winter tyres. On inspection he found that they had only summer slicks!! Back they went to the airport to complain, where they were issued with snow chains and informed that they "don't do winter tyres" in Italy!
This time they set off to a chorus of complaints about hunger. The first motorway service station only served snacks. A disgruntled bunch then piled back into the vehicles in search of food. They eventually found a Burger King (staple diet of most bobbers) which eventually stopped them moaning.
When they finally got moving again Tom missed his turning and gave the boys a good sightseeing tour of northern Italy. The boys arrived at the hotel hours after everybody else, and just after the girls had unloaded all of their bags and put them in their rooms for them. Jackie smelt a rat, but nothing was going to dampen the high spirits of the Team.
Shiner and Dan did some easy strides and stretches together. Then Shiner opened his kit bag and felt just like a child at Christmas. Dan says it's a great hotel and great food so he's happy.
Jackie agrees that the hotel is a cut above the places they usually frequent. She's particularly pleased that there is a wireless Internet connection and says that everyone has been using their "fantastic new computers".
After a quiet beer they bedded down for the night.