World Cup selection races, official training

Today was day 2 of Official Training for New Zealand selection races, I had a few days off prior to official training, so I am feeling great and well rested. My runs today and yesterday were very good, I got some great split times... and highlighted areas of the track that need some work. Tionette and I have 2 more days of training then we race each other on Friday. Combined time from two runs, held under World Cup conditions. Then on Saturday we head to Calgary, where we will have a second race on the 9th, if there is a tie, then we will hold a third race on the 10th.

The winner of these races will be NZL1 and will compete on the World Cup Tour, NZL2 will head for the Europa Cup race in Igls then onto World Cup B - Intercontinental Cup a newly created race series. The NZBSA selection committee have said that the intention is that after 6 IC's and 6 WC's (but not counting the EC points) our points will be totaled and the NZBSA will select the highest points getter for the World Championships. It is important for both athletes to gain as many points as possible(= as many races as possible) in order to qualify and get the best possible seeding for the World Championships (a new rule change means that race seeding will be based on international ranking and not a random draw).

Below is some information about my coach Timothy Nardiello, Peter van Wees and I will be working with him through to the 2010 Olympics.

Nardiello has been coaching skeleton since October 2002.

Nardiello is a two time United States Singles and Doubles Olympian 1984 Sarajevo, 1988 Calgary, 1984 Singles National Champion as well as 5 time 1983,85,86,87,88 United States National Doubles Champion.

Nardiello retired from sliding following the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, and began a successful Luge coaching career. In 2002 he was hired as head coach for the US skeleton team, where he successfully coached his athletes onto the podium, where they achieved a total of 53 World Championship and World Cup medals.

Nardiello has successfully coached more athletes onto the podium than any other skeleton coach ever.

the last two weeks

The last two weeks have been eventful. The weather here in Lake Placid was generally very nice, but not the best for sliding, we had several days that reached 25 degree Celsius, great for the garden barbecue and camp fire area but not very good for the ice on the track. They have managed to keep ice on the track for all but 2 days, which is bloody impressive considering this summer heat.

Tim, my coach, managed to secured ice time for our selection race in Park City, which meant that the NZBSA could follow through with plan A, one race here in Lake Placid, one race in Park City and if needed a race in Calgary. This plan was good, it would have World Cup selection races over by 1st of November (or 9th if we had a tie).

Unfortunately it was decided that 2 weeks was not enough time to organize a race in Park City, and plan b for selection races would need to implemented, one race here on the 2nd, and two races in Calgary. This was very fortunate for Tionette and the coach the NZ Academy of Sport has employed for her, as he said he would quit if we raced in Park City, lucky for them he did not need to.


Working with Tim has been great, having the support of a coach like Tim makes a massive difference, he is there on the radio after every run, there to do track walks with, ready to discus ideas and equipment with, and handy with a welding machine too. He needs a bit more practice with holding a camera steady though!

The US held their selection races and moved onto Park City for the next lot of selection races, the Canadians came and went having held their final selection race.

Norwegian, Swiss and Japanese athletes arrived, and there was a real international feel to the sliding sessions.

I went to Tim's 12 yr old daughters school lip sync competition, which was thoroughly entertaining. And after nearly 4 weeks, I am nearly a local at the Lake Placid Health and Fitness center.

All is going well.

Training is going very good, I am enjoying the track and have great control of my sled, still have not been told what date our World Cup selection race is, but as Tionette and I are both here sliding now it should be soon.

Here is a pic of me training in the gym yesterday.

Sliding time

I am now back in Lake Placid. I have had 3 days of training, and all is going well.