TYLER Heron may have just returned from Canada but the former Launceston hurdler is keen to return to learn more about his new passion for skeleton bobsled.
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The 24-year-old spent 10 days at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s Driver Development School on the 2010 Whistler Olympic track earlier this month with rookies from around the world.
It was the first time Heron had attempted the slopes and said he felt nauseous following his maiden voyage.
“The first day was a bit of a shock to the system experiencing five G’s (g-force) going around a corner… it was motion sickness at a whole new level – I’ve never felt anything like it,” the ex-St Patrick’s College student said.
“The hardest part was the unknown, you don’t know what to expect. You can only run as fast as you can and then you’re going down the track at 130km/h, the track is essentially 1700 metres long and you’re going down in less than a minute.”
The novices were sliding for four hours from 7pm each day of the camp to hone their skills and receive feedback from experienced hands.
Heron said he will now train at the St Leonards Athletics Track and in the gym in preparation for a return to Canada for racing in January next year.
“The coaching was great we had people from all over the world there helping us out,” he said.
“It was a great experience.”
Heron has aspirations to take up the sport long-term and become an Australian winter sports athlete.