Last word - Cool runnings

It takes strong leadership to convince someone that hurling themselves down an icy slope at over 80mph is a good idea. TMR gets an exclusive look at the British Bob Skeleton team trials and how natural talent is unearthed.

In the late 19th century, British gentlemen were causing havoc in the winter sports town of St. Moritz, Switzerland. Racing each other down through the town’s icy streets in customised sleds, they were condemned for posing a threat to the public. A track was built nearby in which to house their daredevil antics more safely, and a fledgling version of what is now known as Bob Skeleton was born.

Fast-forward almost a century and a half and the British Bob Skeleton Association (BBSA) is putting a group of wide-eyed hopefuls through the first stage of their talent trials, identifying those who they think could make it onto the podium at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

“It is difficult to recruit for,” says Andi Schmid, the BBSA’s performance director. “Because of the element of danger, people can’t start too young, so we have to look for experience in other areas, other sports they have been involved in that involve transferable skills.”

Skeleton is suffering from a lack of emerging talent. The sport, which accounts to little more than throwing yourself down a bobsleigh track on a dinner tray, is still struggling to gain notoriety, despite becoming a Winter Olympic event in 2002. The push start track at Bath University is the closest skeleton experience these trialists can have in the UK; those who make it through to the BBSA’s Talent Squad will be jetted off to Lillehammer for more intensive training. Today is about finding the natural talent.

“It’s a long process,” explains Bryn Vaile, the team’s honorary president. “From here we estimate it’s a good seven or eight years before they get to where we want them. In the medals.” And Vaile knows about success. He received an MBE after sailing his way to a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics and has become a leading figure at the British Olympic Association.

“The key is in the pyramid pipeline. We try to make sure we are always bringing talent through so those at the very top know there are people right behind competing for their place. Performance through healthy competition.”