The South West of England plays a crucial role in preparing Britain’s bobsleigh team for the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
The GB bobsleigh team practices their sport in Bath during the summertime. Following a funding setback after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, an Exeter-based internet provider stepped in to sponsor the team.
While Bath lacks the icy mountains required for a traditional bobsleigh track, the University of Bath hosts the UK’s only push start track at the top of Bathwick Hill. This facility allows the team to practice their push start using a bobsleigh with wheels instead of runners.
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Joined by the GB men’s bobsleigh team and their sponsors, South West-based internet provider Cuckoo and All Points Fibre, the author attempted a run on the track. Despite receiving guidance from GB bobsledders Adam Baird and Luka Williams, the attempt was less polished than expected, highlighting the skill required.
The track, built in 2000, was initially equipped with a bungee cord to stop the bobsleigh at the end. In 2015, a ramp was added to enable the bobsleigh to slow down and roll backward, simulating a full bobsleigh track. Jens Hullah, a key member of the four-man GB bobsleigh team, shared his progression from learning to ski at Churchill Secondary School in North Somerset to becoming an integral part of the bobsleigh team.
Adam Baird, the team’s driver, emphasized the significance of the push start, attributing the driving aspect to the ice track. With no full bobsleigh tracks in the UK, the team is compelled to train abroad for navigating a complete track.
Despite facing funding challenges, the team found support from an unexpected source: a South West-based fibre internet provider. Cuckoo, headquartered in Exeter, rallied behind the team and signed a new sponsorship deal with British Bobsleigh, aligning their ethos of speed and fairness with the team’s ambitions.
Adam’s optimism for the upcoming season and the Winter Olympics reflects the team’s enhanced capabilities and infrastructure, underlining the potential for top performances at the international event.