Fourteen Australian bobsledders are set to leave Australia for training and competition in Europe from the first week of November, the largest contingent of athletes that Australia has ever sent away for the sport.
Fourteen Australian bobsledders are set to leave Australia for training and competition in Europe from the first week of November, the largest contingent of athletes that Australia has ever sent away for the sport.
As the priority for the Australian Bobsleigh Association is training pilots for World Cup, all the athletes will be competing in Europa Cups for the first part of the season.
Rob Calleja, the team’s qualified World Cup 2-man pilot, will be attempting to qualify in 4-man during Europa Cup races in November to January in Winterberg and Altenberg in Germany and La Plagne in France, and St Moritz in Switzerland. He will also compete in the British National Championships in Igls, Austria, in January
In January he will compete in both 2 and 4-man events at the European Championships in La Plagne, France, and in World Cup competition in St Moritz, Switzerland, and Cortina, Italy.
Subject to funding, he will also compete in the world championships in February.
With Calleja in the men’s squad are Shane McKenzie, David Rose, Anthony Pepe and Kris Hendrata. Hendrata is training to be a second men’s pilot.
The women's team will be taking part in one Europa Cup event in the early part of the season, in Winterberg, Austria (other events are not available to them as women are prevented from competing on several tracks).
They will train with the British RAF team, attend the International Bosleigh Federation Training School and also compete in the British Army Novice Championships.
After Christmas, existing pilot Hannah Campbell Pegg and crew member Lindsay Chappel will compete in women’s World Cup events in Norway and Germany.
The intention is to have two women’s teams qualify for World Cup and the World Championships in Koningsee, Germany, from February 17-21, with Chappel driving the second sled.
The women’s squad includes three track and field national champions – long jumpers Kylie Reed and Kym Burns and triple jumper Carmen Miller.
Professional sprinter and Stawell Gift finalist Lara Gambino is also a member of the team along with Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Danielle Lynch.
As the priority for the Australian Bobsleigh Association is training pilots for World Cup, all the athletes will be competing in Europa Cups for the first part of the season.
Rob Calleja, the team’s qualified World Cup 2-man pilot, will be attempting to qualify in 4-man during Europa Cup races in November to January in Winterberg and Altenberg in Germany and La Plagne in France, and St Moritz in Switzerland. He will also compete in the British National Championships in Igls, Austria, in January
In January he will compete in both 2 and 4-man events at the European Championships in La Plagne, France, and in World Cup competition in St Moritz, Switzerland, and Cortina, Italy.
Subject to funding, he will also compete in the world championships in February.
With Calleja in the men’s squad are Shane McKenzie, David Rose, Anthony Pepe and Kris Hendrata. Hendrata is training to be a second men’s pilot.
The women's team will be taking part in one Europa Cup event in the early part of the season, in Winterberg, Austria (other events are not available to them as women are prevented from competing on several tracks).
They will train with the British RAF team, attend the International Bosleigh Federation Training School and also compete in the British Army Novice Championships.
After Christmas, existing pilot Hannah Campbell Pegg and crew member Lindsay Chappel will compete in women’s World Cup events in Norway and Germany.
The intention is to have two women’s teams qualify for World Cup and the World Championships in Koningsee, Germany, from February 17-21, with Chappel driving the second sled.
The women’s squad includes three track and field national champions – long jumpers Kylie Reed and Kym Burns and triple jumper Carmen Miller.
Professional sprinter and Stawell Gift finalist Lara Gambino is also a member of the team along with Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Danielle Lynch.