In Europe and America, Australian sliders are gearing up for a big weekend of competition, with the men’s Bobsleigh team leading the way with a fantastic fourth place in the first 2-man event at the Nor Am Cup. 

Bobsleigh

The men’s team are in Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games, for their final North American Cup event before they head to Europe. 

Pilot Heath Spence and teammate Duncan Harvey have had their best performance yet finishing fourth in the first round of the 2-man event. In the second round they again performed well placing sixth after finishing both runs sixth in the field of 14 teams. 

The 4-man squad of Spence, Harvey, Gareth Nichols and Lucas Mata compete on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January. 

The 33-year-old pilot has one eye on Sochi in every race and is confident of their Olympic chances. Spence is currently ranked inside the required top 50 pilots in the 4-man (30th) and 2-man (36th) events and is therefore eligible to qualify for the Olympic Games. 

In women’s racing, two-time Olympians Astrid Radjenovic and Jana Pittman are in St Moritz, Switzerland for the FIBT World Cup to compete in the women’s 2-man event. The pair is striving to improve on their recent performance of 20th at the World Cup in Winterberg, where they crashed on turn nine.  

“We are all fine,” Pittman said from Europe. “It’s bobsled and it happens. The men’s Olympic champion crashed in the same curve the day before.”

“We are back in the sled today and are feeling fantastic.” 

Skeleton

Australian Skeleton athletes are also on an Olympic track in St Moritz, Switzerland, home of the 1928 and 1948 Olympic Winter Games.

Michelle Steele, Lucy Chaffer and John Farrow are set to compete in their fifth World Cup of the season and are striving to secure more vital points for Olympic qualification. 

“Training has been strong with everyone looking forward to getting back into racing,” Skeleton Program Manager Dale Chapman said. 

It is anticipated that Australia will qualify two female sliders with Steele and Chaffer among the frontrunners. Australia may also be represented in the men’s event with Farrow in a battle to move up the qualification ladder.

Steele is currently ranked 13th in World Cup rankings and 17th on the important FIBT list, which will determine her Olympic qualification. 

“I won't know until the end of January if I have qualified this time around,” she said.

“I'm using every race to build on my performances so that by the Games I will be in the best position possible to win gold for Australia.

Luge

Australian teenage Luge sensation, Alex Ferlazzo, who has unofficially qualified for the Games, is in Latvia for the fourth Junior World Cup of the season.

“I am in Latvia for my first race on 11 January 2014,” Ferlazzo said, talking from Europe.

“Then it is back to Germany for a few weeks, followed by races in Konigssee, Oberhof and finally Innsbruck for the Junior World Cup.”

There are 38 places for male luge competitors at the Olympic Games. The Townsville local has earned sufficient points during the World Cup season to finish in 38th position on Olympic adjusted results and now must compete in two luge events in January to fulfil the Olympic qualification requirements. 

Ferlazzo is in Latvia with fellow luge competitor 18-year-old Ashley Cooney, who along with South Australian Dan Newton is still vying for a spot on the Team. Both Cooney and Newton rely on the slim chance of the re-allocation of quota places which will occur from 20 – 24 January 2014.