BOBSLEIGH: They say equipment can make or break a team, and in Bobsleigh they really mean it.

In preparation for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the Australian bobsleds are on a journey of their own.

The men’s 2-man, 4-man and the women’s 2-man sleds are making the trek from Germany to Russia, in time for training to start in two days time.

At 8am on Friday the sleds were loaded on to a semi-trailer in Oberhof, Germany, headed for Sochi.

They have since been through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia and some time on Sunday night (local time) arrived in Russia.

With flying the sleds costing more than 18 thousand dollars, logistically, driving the sleds is the easiest option.

Pilot of the 2-man and 4-man teams, Heath Spence said the sled is an important part of the team.

“We’re actually in a pretty brand new 4-man sled now so with the starts coming together, the driving coming together, and the new sled I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.

The men’s team is aiming for a top 15 finish in both the 2-man and 4-man events.
   
“We’re coming in with expectations to be the best Australian team that’s ever come here,” Spence said.

“Realistically going home with a medal is going to be really really hard just coming from where we come from and how we’ve done this to get here. Qualifying was pretty hard.

“If we can go top 15 in both events we will be real really happy.”

Spence’s partner in the 2-man team, Duncan Harvey said after being part of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Team it was easier to know what to expect come competition time.

“It’s second time round, but the journey getting here was very different,” he said.

Nicknamed Superman, the 32-year-old will be the brakeman in the 2-man team.

He said the nickname was all in good fun.

“I started working out, had black hair and started liking the character, so Mum and Dad named me it.”

Competing in the 4-man event, Gareth Nichols said he and fellow 4-man team member Lucas Mata are calling themselves Batman and Robin.

Nichols, a senior project engineer, said being in Sochi is just starting to sink in.

“It’s a little bit overwhelming. It’s 100 per cent different to the day job, it beats work any day,” he said.

The 30-year-old said wearing the green and gold is a dream come true.

“It’s pretty good, I think it matches my eyes.”

From Perth, 25-year-old Mata said his favourite saying of “living the dream” has finally come true.

“It’s pretty surreal. As soon as the announcement came out it was pretty amazing,” he said.

“This is the dream, to train and travel the world.”

The Bobsleigh competition kicks off on February 16 with the first of the men’s 2-man heats.