Fledgling bobsledders sliding for Calgary

Press, 25 March 1987, Page 52

Fledgling bobsledders sliding for Calgary

By

TIM DUNBAR

In the past New Zealand participation at the Winter Olympics has been the preserve of a few alpine ski-racers. When the Games come round next, though, at Calgary in February, 1988, there

could be speed skaters, luge riders and now bobsledders along as well. The bobsledders, half-a-dozen expatriate Kiwis living in Calgary, believe they are in the right place at the right time to grab a chance to take part in the Olympics. Following the example of a similar group in luge (where competitors go down feet first) a former Christchurch man, Lex Peterson, aged 29, formed the New Zealand Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association in mid-Febru-ary.

Just over a week later Peterson (driver) and his first recruit, Don Ward (brakeman), aged 35, from Timaru, were representing New Zealand in the World Cup two-man bobsled event at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary. The intrepid New Zealanders, novices at the international level, had less than three years experience between them. Somehow they took thirty-second place, in a field of 47 which included the best teams in the world. Their aggregate time of 4min 11.47 s for the four runs was merely 10s —2.5 s a run — behind the East Germans who won the gold medal. Also signed up for the New Zealand team were sufficient members to make up a four-man bob with “alternates” (substitutes). Among them were Owen Pinnell from Thames, Darryl Fergus from Auckland, the * former world-ranked squash player, Murray Lilley, from New Plymouth, and Jamie Gilkison from Dunedin. "Lilley’s never even seen a sled, but rumour has it he can run,” Peterson said. Peterson and Ward eventually made up the four-man bob team with Pinnell and Fergus. They

were among the finishers, but near the tail of the field

The appearance of the little New Zealand team attracted the attention of the Canadian media and under the headline, “Kiwi sledders a zealous lot,” a full-page article, with action shot, appeared in the “Calgary Suh” of February 26. ' Pinnell, Fergus and Ward had all played rugby together for the Calgary Irish and only recently took up , a new sport, that of bobsledding. Before taking part in the World ■ Cup Peterson and Ward had ‘ made about 50 runs together. The equivalent; said. the “Calgary Sun,” of “about one month’s training schedule for’the mighty Swiss, East Germans and Soviets.” Peterson told the news-' paper that they were desperately trying to find more New Zealand recruits with athletic prowess. “We’re old and slow, but at least we’re prepared to make a major commitment for the Olympics.”

The Christchurch man himself put several thousand dollars into the

training programme, the team uniform was donated by Pinnell, and their Foothills, loaned a sleigh (which usually cost sCanl 1,000). “But, mostly, this spirited half-dozen is underfinanced and weak of legs,” said the “Sun.”

To this end Pinnell has written to the America’s Cup challenge syndicate chief, Michael Fay, asking for $lOO,OOO in backing and Ward is coming home at Easter on a working holiday to try to sign up some more team members. Preferably people who can run and push at the same time.

According to the “Calgary Sun,” Peterson said neither he nor Ward was in very good shape. “We’re just not the athletes we could be and should be. We were here for fun until it turned out we could beat some of these countries, and the Olympics are a pretty strong carrot.” .. The. sCanlB million course at Canada Olympic Park on which the Winter ; Olympic bobsled and luge events will be held next February is not for the faint-hearted.

:? It is a refrigerated, concrete track;/ 1475 m long (making up nearly 6km of sliding in four runs) with a drop of 118.2 m and incorporating , eight banked curves left and another six tb the right.

Standard dress for the sledder makes an imposing ’ list: crash ' helmet, goggles, knee,. elbow and shoulder pads, tight stretch suits, gloves and special shoes with steel spikes. From a standing start, bob teams accelerate the sled to close to 60km/h. Strong sprinters are needed to provide, , the push. On the 60s ride down the track speeds over 125km/h are reached."

/■' Ward, a Canterbury University graduate whose wife’s parents live

in Christchurch, is very much an enthusiast. "With speeds of more

than 100 kilometres Jan hour and four “G’s” on the corners it is quite a thrill, Ward told his father-in-law, Mr Laurence Ford.

Note: According to the programme for the World Cup bobsleigh event at Canada Olympic Park, Gforces at the fastest point of a curve exert a pressure of more than four and one half times an athlete’s body weight (4.5 G’s). By comparison a roller-coaster on a loop “Pulls” less than 2G’s. Ward was delighted that the French team was among those he and Peterson beat in the twoman event “We even checked the sled for limpet mines,” he quipped. If all goes well the bobsledders will be competing in Calgary again in 11 months time and beating a few more top teams at the Olympic Games. , “This is probably the first time in my life I’m going to be in the right place at the right time so why not take advantage of it,” Peterson told the “Calgary Sun.” . The accomplishments of the bobsledders in such a short time have already been brought to the attention of the New Zealand Olympic . and Commonwealth Games Association:

Tay Wilson, the general secretary of the N.Z.0.C.G.A., said this week that the bobsledders were just starting and would need to improve their times. But he added: “The door is open. It’s a matter of them showing how good they are.” While it was ultimately up to the, selectors, Mr Wilson thought that both the luge and bobsled people had a, reasonable chance of competing, in the Olympics. ’

The fact that the bobsledders were already in Canada (like the luge men who made an.; ; earlier start) must' help their cause, Mr Wilson said. “I admire their enthusiasm and initiative.”