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Jersey bobsleigh diary - day one

By Will Golder and Kevan Crowell
Jersey bobsleigh team

Jersey Bobsleigh
Golder and brakeman Crowell share their thoughts from St Moritz

DAY 1

Will's version

After travelling for two long days we have arrived at our residence for the week.

The first bit of luck has gone our way as we have been given a five-person flat for the three of us, thanks to the Russians staying on an extra night. This means the first person to snore gets ejected to the single bed in the lounge all alone (Kev).

We have been to see our sled for the two weeks. It is another new sled to me but it is the same make, Dresden, that I drove at the British Championships this year.

We also took a stroll up to the track for my first look at an all natural track.

First impressions created more nerves than I normally get but this is probably down to the situation of Europa debut as well as the track

Will Golder
From talking to everyone else I will never drive a faster track but at the same time never drive a smoother track either.

First impressions created more nerves than I normally get but this is probably down to the fact it is my Europa Cup debut as well as on the track.

The long straights and sweeping corners will make for a challenging drive but I am confident that after a couple of experience runs we will be getting to grips with it all.

Kev and I will be writing daily reports making them honest and factual. All mistakes are Kev's fault as I'm never wrong!!

Will send updates tomorrow after the first training runs.

Will.


Kev's Version

There are various reasons why Will and I will be providing separate copy.

Firstly, it is to share the workload ethic in bobsleigh.

But primarily, it is to provide an insight from both angles as you'd be surprised just how different two men can view the same run in the same bob on the same track.

It gives me time to assess those corners which possess the greatest risk and to take a deep breath and wriggle my head just that little bit further between my legs

Kevan Crowell

For example - Will: "Just clipped a couple of corners on the way down!"

Tempered by the feelings of the brakeman, "Clipped??!? I got the impression you were trying to drive though said walls!!"

Day one in St Moritz saw us visit the track with 14 layers of clothes on as the temperature was minus two degrees in mid-afternoon, but what a track!

While only present in an advisory role to Will, it gave me time to assess those corners which possess the greatest risk of decanting the bob, significant pressure points and points at which to take a deep breath and wriggle my head just that little bit further between my legs.

The track is a mixture of high speed and corners of varying grade, difficulty and pressure.

There is no intermediate start at St Moritz so having settled nicely into our apartment and quarantined Will's footwear, a good night sleep is needed as we'll be up early to face the first day of practice in the Europa Cup.



see also
Jersey bobsleigh duo hit target
18 Nov 08 |  Winter Sports
Jersey pair bid for improvement
05 Nov 08 |  Winter Sports


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