British Skeleton chief encouraged by early signs of Whistler training camp

BRITISH Skeleton performance director Andi Schmid has been encouraged by Great Britain's performances in their training week in Whistler, Canada but insists Vancouver 2010 will be a different prospect altogether.

 HIGH HOPES: Great Britain's sliders are currently honing their skills at the Whistler Sliding Centre

The Great Britain squad are currently taking part in the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT) international training week at the Whistler Sliding Centre, the site of the Vancouver 2010 competition.

The track in Whistler is the most demanding ever constructed - 1,450m in length, the largest vertical drop in the world - 152m - with 16 corners and a top speed of 150km/h, all producing a maximum of 5.02 Gs.

But Vanoc have restricted overseas nations to one week's training on the track, the minimum practice time permitted by international governing body the FIBT.

That has placed even greater significance on Great Britain's week-long trip to Whistler, but Schmid insists he is pleased with what he has seen so far.  

"We're picking up our times and getting better and better, but I'm convinced we have still got more potential," he said.

"We need to be patient. The times we're sliding here don't count for anything.  It's about getting used to the track and getting the feel of the environment.

"We've got a strong team and everyone is working hard and working well together."

 With 100 days to go until Vancouver 2010, Great Britain have four more days' training in Whistler, ahead of the season-opening World Cup in Park City on November 12.

The 2009/10 season culminates after the eight World Cup meets of the season with Vancouver 2010 and Schmid is adamant his squad's chances cannot be gauged until their World Cup campaign is well under way.

"We're looking forward to getting started on the World Cup," he added. "Then we will see where we are, compared with the other nations."

Skeleton represents one of Great Britain's best chances of a medal at Vancouver 2010 as Team GB garnered a bronze in 2002 and a silver in 2006 courtesy of Alex Coomber and Shelley Rudman respectively.

Rudman will almost certainly be back, bidding to upgrade to gold in Vancouver and she is likely to be joined by world silver medallist Amy Williams, while Kristan Bromley, who was crowned world champion in 2008, and Adam Pengilly, who took world silver last year, walso expected to feature.

At last year's inaugural World Cup at Whistler, Bromley's tenth-place finish was the best the men could muster, while for the women, Williams took silver and Rudman had to settle for sixth.

The British Olympic Association is due to announce skeleton selections for Team GB for Vancouver 2010 in January.

Great Britain have named a six-strong squad for the World Cup season with Andy Wood joining Bromley and Pengilly in the men's ranks and Donna Creighton teaming up with Rudman and Williams in the women's.

Throughout the World Cup campaign, Great Britain will be bidding to secure the maximum six qualification places for Vancouver.