Karl and Martin focus on 4-Man training

(Daily Reports courtesy of The Winter Sports Agency)

Shiner and Karl are now settled into the village having taken over a room vacated by the Skeleton athletes. Life has been hectic for the two Royal Marines, working behind the scenes to keep the sleds ship-shape and polishing what must feel like thousands of runners.

And not just behind the scenes either ? we?ve seen an awful lot of them on the TV ? acting as pit crew at the bottom of the track. By ensuring that Lee, Dan, Nic and Jackie had their warm kit to put on, moving the sled out of the track and loading it onto transport back to the top of the track, the competing athletes have been able to focus on racing.

4-Man training is going well. The new combination is getting consistent and safe starts. On occasion Lee has managed some impressive top speeds as well.

Martin describes pretty casual behaviour in the crew-men up at the changing room, acting tired and lethargic, reluctant to go outside and warm up, more concerned about trading kit.

Not terribly sophisticated mind-games ? but then they are men, and bobbers?

Without doubt there will be some extremely determined racing tomorrow night in what is after all the blue riband event of Winter Sports.