ARE YOU FEELING OLYMPIC TODAY?
We’re always on the lookout for athletes in pursuit of their greatness. Let’s get there together.
WHAT IT TAKES
To be a successful bobsleigh and skeleton pusher you have to have a mix of speed and explosive power. This means following a training program that develops speed of over 30–45m, as well as explosive strength, which allows you to move a heavy object from a stationary position to speeds close to your sprinting speed in as short a period of time as possible. Explosive weight and resistance training is therefore critical as well.
talent identification
The JBSF has the following four methods for talent identification
PERFORMANCES DURING THE ANNUAL JAMBOB PUSH RACE SERIES
The JamBob Push event is an innovation of N. Christian Stokes which seeks to combine the excitement of drag car racing with the bobsleigh push event. Two racers line up side by side on their own track, similar to the motor version of the sport, and race down the track, pushing a sled. The event serves to create a new sport which showcases the speed strength capabilities of Jamaican athletes on a nationwide basis. This allows for the participation of a large number of athletes in an event that stands by itself. The sport also serves as a recruiting mechanism for the JBSF to identify the best pushers in the islands and converting them to bobsleigh pushers.
PERFORMANCES DURING THE NATIONAL PUSH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The National Push Championships are held every year the last Saturday in September. Races are held in 4 events to determine the national champion in each event:
- Male Single Bobsleigh Push
- Female Single Bobsleigh Push
- Male Single Skeleton Push
- Female Single Skeleton Push
Each athlete has up to three pushes in their event. Each push is over 45m a 15m start and the next thirty meters timed. Positions are based on the times 30 meters with the lowest time winning. The athletes must also be loaded into the sled and pass under a 3-foot bar without hitting it to complete the run. The results of the competition, in addition to crowning National Champions, provides additional information for the coaches to make their team selections. Here are some examples of push races:
ATHLETE TESTING EVENT DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY ANNUALLY
Each year, generally around the first week of July, the JBSF hosts a national selection event. The event tests athletes abilities in various speed/strength activities. Your performance in this event will give the coaches an idea of your potential to become a bobsleigh athlete and may result in your being invited to the annual summer training camp for further assessment and development. The test events vary but are normally:
-
- 30m sprint
- 30m sled push
- 30m sled pull
- Standing long jump.
- Vertical jump
REFERRALS OF ESTABLISHED ELITE ATHLETES FROM THEIR SPORT CLUBS, OR CURRENT NATIONAL BOBSLEIGH ATHLETES
To be a successful bobsleigh and skeleton pusher you have to have an mix of speed and explosive power. This means following a training program that develops speed over 30m to 45m as well as explosive strength which allows you to move a heavy object from a stationary position to speeds close to your sprinting speed in as short a period of time as possible. Explosive weight and resistance training is therefore critical as well. Here are some useful videos to give an idea of the training required:
