Team Fun at USABS Annual Camp

USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS) recently held its annual Team Camp at UNC Charlotte, home to the United States Performance Center (USPC).

The camp kicked off with meetings and gear distribution, but the real excitement came on day three. Team members bonded through thrilling activities at the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC), including high ropes courses, kayaking, paddleboarding, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting.

These team-building exercises helped strengthen relationships among athletes and staff, fostering a spirit of camaraderie essential for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.

Athletes for Hope Initiative

On the final day of camp, USABS partnered with Dream on 3 and Athletes for Hope for an amazing event at TopGolf. This collaboration brought together USABS athletes and young fans for a day of golfing and fun.

The athletes spent quality time with the young participants, sharing their experiences and passion for sports.

This initiative underscores USABS's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the sporting community, creating memorable experiences for all.

USABS Foundation Raises $13K at "Cocktails and Ice"

The camp concluded with a successful fundraising event called "Cocktails and Ice," hosted by the USABS Foundation (USABSF) at the Belk estate, home to Bill Belk. Bill and his son Ike have been key players in the formation of the USPC.

This elegant affair brought together athletes, supporters, and private donors to raise funds for USABS and increase exposure for bobsled and skeleton sports.

The event generated over $13,000 for the athletes. These funds will play a crucial role in supporting USABS athletes and programs as they prepare for future competitions and the upcoming season.

Building for the Future

With the exciting news of the Olympic Games returning to Salt Lake City in 2034, USA Bobsled/Skeleton is excited to host a combine at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, UT, on August 17th, 2024. The top-performing participants will be invited to the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY for a Rookie Camp.

We are looking for athletes from speed and power sports, such as football, track and field, and soccer, who have the potential to push a bobsled or skeleton sled downhill on ice at high speeds.

Successful athletes in these sports demonstrate grit, excellent teamwork, and a bit of an adrenaline streak. No prior experience with bobsled or skeleton is necessary—we provide all the training.

USA Bobsled/Skeleton is committed to identifying the next generation of homegrown talent in Salt Lake City and across the United States.

Our goal is to find athletes who will represent Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games. By supporting athletes who make the USA proud, we will inspire future generations.  We are committed to building on the legacy of the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City. By recruiting and developing talented athletes, we honor and continue the tradition of excellence established during those games.

The event will start at 9 a.m. Mountain Time and is open to anyone 16+. The skills tested will be a 40-yard sprint, a broad jump, a vertical jump and sled pushes. For more information on how to register, scan the QR code above or visit https://gmtm.com/virtuals/1040/slide-2-glory.

Sliding on home ice is an unparalleled experience, and USA Bobsled/Skeleton is fortunate to have two new exciting opportunities on the horizon located right here in the USA.

Salt Lake City has been selected as the host for the 2029 World Championships by the IBSF Congress, narrowly surpassing Germany’s Königssee for the bid.

Additionally, just this week, Salt Lake was officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

These opportunities hold significant importance for USA Bobsled/Skeleton, especially considering our strong connection to Salt Lake following the historic 2002 Games and our extensive network of athletes and alumni from Utah.

Catching Up with Our Legendary Coaching Staff

Brian Shimer and Tuffy Latour both celebrated 20 years this past season with the federation as coaching staff. Both have dedicated their lives to the sports of bobsled and skeleton coaches and before that athletes, significantly contributing to USABS' success.

Brian Shimer is currently a U.S. Bobsled coach. "For many decades, USA Bobsled has been a significant part of my life, offering me the privilege of meeting and working with some of the best athletes in the world and the opportunity to represent this great nation over the last 10 Olympic Games, as an athlete and a coach” Shimer reflected on his experience with USABS.

Tuffy Latour currently also serves as a U.S. Bobsled Coach. Latour shares, "USA Bobsled/Skeleton has played a significant role in my life for more than three decades. It's a great honor to be able to share my time with incredibly talented individuals while exploring the world."

Both men’s expertise and dedication continue to shape the future of bobsled and skeleton in the United States!

Matthew Troy, USABS’ longtime videographer, created tribute videos for the two men that were shown when they were awarded plaques for their years of dedication to the team. Shimer’s video can be viewed here and Tuffy’s video can be viewed here.

Thank you for reading!