Launceston athlete Tyler Heron will head back to Canada this month to learn more about his newly found sport – skeleton bobsled.
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The former hurdler made the switch to the Winter Olympics sport last year and spent 10 days at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s Driver Development School with rookies from around the world.
Heron, 25, will fly in to Calgary on Friday where he will then travel to Whistler for a two-week camp before two weeks racing in both locations. “I’ll be over there for about a month and there will be more people coming into an Olympic year, the competition will be a lot stronger and there will be some more experienced athletes around to learn off,” he said.
“It’s good to be around athletes that have got the experience of bigger competitions.
“Last year I went over there to essentially try the sport… the aim for next year now that I’ve done a couple of tracks in Canada will be possibly going to Europe and experiencing a few tracks over there that have characteristics. That will make sure I can handle more than just a couple of tracks.”
Heron said he has spent an average six hours a week training in the gym and at the St Leonards Athletics Centre to build up his explosive power. The builder said he is eyeing a possible tilt at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China.
“That is a more realistic opportunity having just taken up the sport,” he said.
“I’ll gain as much experience as possible this time and then focus on the long-term goals.”