May 2, 2012 Marketing pitch to recruit new members for the new Bobsleigh & Skeleton sport club at Simon Fraser University

1. SFU
Bobsleigh & Skeleton
The first University Bobsleigh &
Skeleton program in North America.
We are a radical university, are we not?
Presentation by athlete: Tink Newman
President of SFU Bobsleigh & Skeleton

2. No previous experience required.
We understand that some of you have a “need for speed” in
sports. Can you never go fast enough? Sliding sports are
only for tough people who love speed and the outdoors.
Common sport recruitment comes from:
Snowboarding, skiing, gymnastics, dance,
snowmobiling, rugby, track and football.

3. Students from SFU are
Jamie McCartney
Bobsleigh
National Team
Kinesiology
not afraid to slide.
Adam Newton Jane Channell Liza Whitehead Justin Kripps
Criminology
Geography
Health Sciences Bobsleigh
Olympic Team
Tink Newman
Kinesiology
Interactive Arts & Technology
Olympic Rep for SFU
Skeleton
Bobsleigh & Skeleton
Inter Provincial Development Team
Slide 2018 Program

4. So what
is Skeleton exactly?
Solo sport with fun times in group sessions
Top speeds: 135 km/hr
Sled weight: 75 lbs
Mechanics: pushing, loading on, driving

5. Bobsleigh,
like the Jamacian team right?
Women’s Gold
Vancouver 2010
Jusin Kripps
Olympic Team
Team sport with 2-man or 4-man sleds
Top speeds: 150 km/hr
Sled weight: 1500 lbs +
Mechanics: pushing, jumping in, steering or riding
Positions: Pilot (steering), brakeman (pushing & pulling brakes)

6. Bobsleigh Helmet
Speedsuit (for competition)
Rental Equipment Provided
Skeleton Helmets
Bobsleigh Helmets
Skeleton sled or Bobsled
Skeleton Helmet (Personalized)
You will need:
Tight fitting, warm, layered clothing
Lightweight gloves
Track spikes

7. Whistler is an Olympic track venue and is currently the fastest
track in the world. There are track workers, medics, control
tower staff to make sure all sliding is as safe as possible.
Olympic Silver Medalist Coach,
Ivo Pakalns puts your safety as his first priority.
There is no trial available, but only to watch.
The track corners are number from 1-16, from top to bottom.
You start out at corner 11 and will work your way up to corner
7. Competitive athletes will be able to slide higher after
special training instruction.
Weekend sessions will be available once or twice per month.
The Whistler Sliding Centre

8. Athletic Training
Skeleton and Bobsleigh athletes
push themelves to be strong and
fast. Both the women and men focus
on backsquats, deadlifts, bench,
rows, power lifting (cleans) and
sprinting.
Most sliders that are new to the
sports focus their first years on
learning the correct technique and
which exercises are most beneficial.

9. Olympic Development
Skeleton and Bobsled normally take about 8
years to master and compete on the Olympic
level.
Traditionally the sport recruits athletes when
they are in their late teens to early twenties in
comparison to figure skating which starts as
early as soon as children can walk.
For athletic university students, its not too late
to get on a path to the Olympics in sliding
sports.
You haven’t missed the
age cut-off.

10. For people interested in
competitive sliding
1. Identify the time and location of
the next Talent ID camp you want to
attend.
www.slide2018.ca
www.bobsleigh.ca
2. Start lifting weights in the gym
for specific exercises and sprinting.
3. Register to attend a Skeleton
school to recieve your liscense to
slide higher up on the track.
4. Check out the Bobsleigh Canada
Website for team information on
PDFs under recruitment.

12. How will we get to, and stay Whistler?
Sliders who would like to attend a
session will let the execs know
through an existing group on
Facebook called the SFU-W (SFU to
Whistler transportation). This is a
large group of people who all have
interests in going to Whistler.
The Exec team will help coordinate
bookings of sessions and carpooling
to the sessions, but you are responsible for your own gas cost. Perhaps
when the club grows, we will be able
to use funding to help subsidize
transportation costs.
Inexpensive lodging for weekend trips
can be booked at the Athlete Village
Lodge or Hostelling International (H.I)
also located in the Athlete Village for
approximately $35 / night.

13. Social events are a must.
SFU Bobsleigh & Skeleton Execs are planning on hosting some
social events this year. Each year we will have the club, the events
will become more elaborate but for now: will these do?
-Cool runnings: Jamaican Bobsleigh based movie showing.
-Going to the pub in Whistler.
-Hosting a get-together at the Highland.
-Arranging a club night in Vancouver.
-Group study sessions in Whistler.

14. So, at the end of the day, how much will this
$8
$100
$12
cost?
SFU Bobsleigh & Skeleton
annual membership (for this
year). Can join just to watch and
to join the parties.
An annual British Columbia
Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association (BCBSA) membership
(covers administration and
coaching). Required to slide.
per run fee
(approx. 4 runs available/night)
1-4 sessions/ month REC
Varying costs:
-Sprinting Track spikes
-Carpooling gas cost
($45 / round trip, to be split
through carpooling)

15. Year 1 - Recruitment and
program development. Create
recreational and competitive
divisons.
Year 2 - Train recruited
athletes. Develop proper
training program using
SFU Rec funds and
external funding.
Year 3 - Apply for
Virtual varsity
status (pilot
program
at SFU)
This is just the
beginning of the
legacy at SFU.
Contact the club:
Tink Newman
President
SFUsliding@gmail.com