Skeleton star Howard set for GB winter training camp

Hurtling down a track made of ice at speeds of up to 90mph may not be everyone's idea of fun but former Windsor Rugby Club player James Howard sees it as his ticket to Olympic gold.

The 23-year-old has secured himself a position in the GB bob skeleton development squad, having claimed one of just five places on offer to 1,500 hopefuls who signed up to UK Sports' PowertoPodium Initiative.

And now he has set his sights on following in the footsteps of Amy Williams who claimed gold in the skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The former Windsor Boys School pupil admits, however, that he is still trying to get used to the sport which sees athlete plunging head first down a mountain course on a sled just inches above the ice.

"It is pretty terrifying especially the first couple of times you go down," he said. "It's still pretty hairy but now I'm concentrating so much on what I have to do and the corners that are coming up, that I don't think about it as much.

"Depending on the track you can get up to about 90mph. The G-Force when you go around some corners makes you smack your head against the ice.

"It's really tough on your body but when you finish a good run it definitely gives you a buzz."

Howard became interested in bob skeleton after seeing Williams win her gold medal in Vancouver three years ago.

Last year he successfully applied to the UK Sports' PowertoPodium Initiative which saw him along with 1,500 others tested for speed, power and strength.

This testing went on over five phases, culminating in a final selection process in Lillehammer, Norway on the Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge track.

And in March Howard's dream came true when he was one of five chosen for selection to the GB development squad.

Next month he moves into the winter training programme which will see him travel to Norway, Austria, Germany and North America.

"It's been amazing," he said. "I've done about 30 runs now and I'm loving it.

"This year is all about developing the skills we've learned so far before we compete in the European circuit next winter."

Howard's ultimate ambition is to make it to the Olympics but he admits next year's Games in Sochi, Russia, may come just too soon.

He said: "The programme is not really interested in developing athletes just to get to the Olympics, the goal is for us to win gold.

"That's obviously what I want. Sochi is not out of the question but it might come to soon. South Korea in 2018 is the one we're preparing for."

* Howard is working part-time while training in a bid to help fund his bid for Olympic gold.

If any individual or business would like to sponsor him to help with his efforts, call 07919 207102.