British Bobsleigh Association
Training gets serious on the Olympic Track
15 February 2006
Day 12: Wednesday 15th February
Negotiating the mud, problems with accreditation and a tentative start for Johnston and Humphries on the track
(Daily Reports courtesy of The Winter Sports Agency)
The days in Sestriere are distinctly more busy.
The Team has been finding their feet so to speak, wading through the mud and makeshift carpets that cover the village. The food is pretty basic but adequate. The team all had medicals this morning and Dan has asked for a scan on a sore muscle.
Since moving from the holding camp in St Moritz to the Olympic venue the boys have been putting in the hours. Karl and Shiner have been put up in a hotel just outside the village until Skeleton moves out on Saturday. So they have to hike up and down the hill every time they need to go to the team HQ in the village.
Dean and Paul have not been able to get accredited as there seems to have been problems with the FIBT who said they have reached their quota. Tom has had a meeting with the FIBT secretary but as yet has been unable to resolve the situation.
Lee and Dan didn't sparkle on the track tonight but the coaching team are poring over all the data they have accumulated looking for clues. Karl has been on video duty, "hanging like a chimp" in various awkward positions around the track trying to get the best shot of Lee and the other top pilots driving different corners and areas of the track. The video is then used later in the day so that Tom, Pete and Lee can compare times and video to see where Lee is losing time on the track and how he can improve, noting the 'lines' of any pilots who are driving parts of the track fast.
The girls had a rest day today. After a check-up with the physio they decided to get some fresh air and take in the Olympic atmosphere by watching some down hill skiing. Jackie says it was great to watch as you don't appreciate how steep it is on tv. The watched GB girl Chemmy Alcott finish in 11th - a great result for her. After an afternoon nap they went to the track to unload equipment and walked the track together, taking in the atmosphere. It will be their stage in a few days and both girls are sure they will be giving their best performance to date.
The days in Sestriere are distinctly more busy.
The Team has been finding their feet so to speak, wading through the mud and makeshift carpets that cover the village. The food is pretty basic but adequate. The team all had medicals this morning and Dan has asked for a scan on a sore muscle.
Since moving from the holding camp in St Moritz to the Olympic venue the boys have been putting in the hours. Karl and Shiner have been put up in a hotel just outside the village until Skeleton moves out on Saturday. So they have to hike up and down the hill every time they need to go to the team HQ in the village.
Dean and Paul have not been able to get accredited as there seems to have been problems with the FIBT who said they have reached their quota. Tom has had a meeting with the FIBT secretary but as yet has been unable to resolve the situation.
Lee and Dan didn't sparkle on the track tonight but the coaching team are poring over all the data they have accumulated looking for clues. Karl has been on video duty, "hanging like a chimp" in various awkward positions around the track trying to get the best shot of Lee and the other top pilots driving different corners and areas of the track. The video is then used later in the day so that Tom, Pete and Lee can compare times and video to see where Lee is losing time on the track and how he can improve, noting the 'lines' of any pilots who are driving parts of the track fast.
The girls had a rest day today. After a check-up with the physio they decided to get some fresh air and take in the Olympic atmosphere by watching some down hill skiing. Jackie says it was great to watch as you don't appreciate how steep it is on tv. The watched GB girl Chemmy Alcott finish in 11th - a great result for her. After an afternoon nap they went to the track to unload equipment and walked the track together, taking in the atmosphere. It will be their stage in a few days and both girls are sure they will be giving their best performance to date.