Olympians Hone Skills at Whistler Sliding Centre

Posted: January 29, 2014

WHISTLER, B.C. - In nine days Canadians will be cheering on its elite winter athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The British Columbia Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BCBSA) and the Whistler Sliding Centre are especially proud as Summerland, B.C. resident and Olympic bobsledder Justin Kripps will be joining Team Canada as he marches into the Fisht Olympic Stadium – where both the Opening and Closing Ceremony are to be held. 

Kripps, earned his first career World Cup gold medal this past weekend in Konigssee, Germany, by posting a two-race time of 1:39.71; .15 ahead of the second-place finisher. (Kripps Captures World Cup Gold in 2 Man Bobsled)  Justin began his bobsleigh career in 2006 after accepting an invitation to join a talent ID camp. Moving quickly through the ranks of the Canadian Bobsleigh Team, in 2010 this B.C. native took fifth place during the Vancouver Games in the Four-Man Bobsleigh competition as brakeman to Pierre Lueders. 

With several years of sliding experience and an Olympic Winter Games under his belt, he made the transition into the pilot’s seat. A new set of skills and hours of training would be needed to make this move, and Kripps honed his driving skills at his home track here in B.C. at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Finishing tenth overall for the season and his first place podium this past weekend, it looks as if the training paid off.

(In the above image, Justin takes his first training run in a 4 man sled at the Whistler Sliding Centre back in 2011 - rounding Thunderbird - curve 16 - at 139 km/h)

Strength, endurance, courage and passion define an Olympian.  Through learning to slide programs and talent ID camps, the BCBSA evaluates athletic performances of individual participants and determines potential for both competitive and development programs for bobsled and skeleton disciplines. These programs and events provide opportunities for athletes to live the Olympic dream, just as Justin Kripps has.

 

If you have strength and motivation with an interest in the sport of bobsleigh or skeleton, and think you have what it takes to become the next National or Olympic champion contact BCBSA.

 

For more information about BCBSA sliding programs or talent ID camps, log onto http://www.slidebc.ca/ or contact, at info@slideBC.ca.