Down By Two

(A post from Blackout – Don)

Last Saturday came as a surprise to both Jeremy and I. We were unaware there was going to be a bobsled race; therefore, didn’t do much to prepare for it. Sure we’ve been at the track regularly, but practicing 4-man bobsled. The race was for 2-man sleds. Until Saturday morning, we hadn’t pulled out the 2-man in about a month and a half. That sled felt neglected (and it made sure we knew that).

We got to the track about an hour before the race to do a little maintenance. Most of the time was spent sanding runners. After about 45 min, the runners weren’t perfect, but they looked better.

Show time!

Once the sled was in position, Jeremy and I set ourselves and began the cadence: “Back. Set. Ready…”

Since I don’t see much in the back, I have to recall the trip down the track by feeling. And once I felt turn four, I knew something wasn’t right; we were taping walls and dropping out of turns.

Sure enough, once we crossed the finish line Jeremy turned to me and said, “Something’s not right with the steering.” (Yeah, that would explain the ride.) And after the first heat, Team Holm was in fourth place.

After taking a couple minutes to adjust the steering, and getting back in the zone, we were back at the top of the track waiting for our second and final heat of the race. (If there were ever a time to get in the zone, this was it. We needed a really good push off, and you could tell that Jeremy was ready to pilot.

Again came the cadence: “Back. Set. Ready…” And we’re off! We definitely pushed harder; I also gave it a couple more steps before jumping in. (I think I kick Jeremy by accident during the load.)

This time it was a lot smoother, and I could feel Jeremy taking the bobsled to higher lines than before.

Given the condition of the track (I failed to mention it was raining that day and we were sliding on slush – not ice, which would be far more conducive to bobsledding) we were pleased with the run. But, we still needed to wait for one more bobsled before finding out if we medaled.

Sure enough, we made it! We came in third. I gotta hand it to Jeremy; he did a fabulous job getting us down the track safely the first time, and having a killer run the second time. Medaling with a non-responsive bobsled is pretty impressive.

Auzzie, Auzzie, Auzzie - Oy, oy, oy!

L to R:Jeremy Holm, Jason Oliveri, Jeremy Rolleston, Matt Storms, and Don Osmond)

This past week and a half has been a lot of fun for us as a team. As we've tried to cram in as many training sessions as possible to make up for the holiday break, we've found ourselves up at the track as much as four days a week.

One of the best part about bobsledding is all the friends that you make through the sport. Not that they're all bobsledders themselves, you get to meet athletes from all sports, summer and winter.

These past few training sessions we've had the great honor of training alongside some athletes from the Australian bobsled team. Jeremy Rolleston and Jason Oliveri. Despite requiring a few minutes of straight conversation to get used to their accents, we quickly became mates with these guys and had a lot of fun together (especially when they were so thoughtful and tried to buy us beer as a thank-you for all the help we gave them even though none of us, including the Aussies, drink)! I was able to sit and talk with Jeremy and go over drive-lines in the track and to help him in some spots he was trying nail down. Some of the Team Holm pushers were able to go over technique with Jason as well.

And then, the best of all, we were able to get Jeremy into our 4man bobsled for some runs just before they had to leave to head back to Australia. Two Team Holm athletes, Don Osmond and Matt Storms, even volunteered to ride with Jeremy on his runs down the track that night. I decided that Jeremy needed the runs and my athletes more than I did, so I helped coach at the top of the track that night. And he did great! Jeremy's first runs down in a 4man were very nicely done, so good on ya mate!

Afterwards we all went down to Main Street Park City for a farewell dinner. Although it ended up a late night by the time we all got to our homes, it was well worth it.

Jeremy and Jason, you'll always have mates in Team Holm Bobsled and we'll see you on the ice!

Fire and Ice: Orem, UT Firefighter 5k Fundraiser

So this past weekend Team Holm Racing had the opportunity to help out our local fire department raise some funds for the Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

Not only did we participate in the morning's 5k race (our fearless team captain/driver Jeremy Holm pulled off about a 24 minute run) but pusher/future team driver Brad Welch and Jeremy entertained race participants and supporters by demonstrating the ins and outs of bobsled. The team brought the flame-job painted (appropriate for the day!) two-man sled as well as a table full of bobsled equipment: helmet, shoes, uniforms, bobsled runners, medals, and gloves. They also passed out autographs, pictures, posters, business cards, and postcards.

"We had a blast," Jeremy said. "It was great to run the race with that many people, even though I'm only used to running 50-meters on ice and jumping in the sled! But to take part in such a great cause is always a good way to start the day. Plus, it is always fun to be out there sharing our sport with the general population. So hopefully we were able to ad a certain level of entertainment and excitement to the fundraiser and help the fire department and the hospital have a successful event."

If you have a fundraiser, church function, social gathering, or business event that you would like Team Holm Racing to attend, please contact us.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (or dollars)

As many of you know, Team Holm Bobsled had a very memorable Easter Sunday this year.

You can click here to read the full story, but the short and sweet of it is that we had the incredible opportunity of participating in a special photo shoot at the Park City bobsled track with Getty Images under the talented direction of Stephen Schauer.

And now, after waiting patiently (and some days not so patiently, we're like kids waiting for Christmas), the results are in. And to be honest, they are simply breathtaking.

After nearly eight years in the sport, to see yourself and your teammates captured in images like these, well...it is a feeling that's hard to describe. I guess you could say that it is one of those achievements that make all the sacrifices, all the hard work, all the discouragements, and all the cold nights spent on the ice worth it.

Enjoy the photos posted below and be sure to leave us some comments on what you think! And be sure to check back in a couple of days when we post some more images! We just ask that out of respect for Getty Images that you do not download these images in any form.

Most Embarrassing Moments #1

Ok, we got some good feedback from our "Crazy Bobsledding Exercises" post so we decided to move forward with Team Holm Bobsled's most embarrassing moments stories. And since it was my idea, I guess I'll go first! Me and my big mouth....

So, this happened back in the 1997-1998 season (before we looked as good as we do now). Back then, the Park City track did their passenger ride program with regular four-man bobsleds, not the modified ones that they are using now. These sleds needed a driver and a brakeman, which was part of my job description. I should mention that I was working for the USBSF (our national governing body) at the time and they ran the passenger program so I divided my time between playing brakeman for the sleds and helping passengers load into the sleds and prepare to go.

Well one night I was just assigned the task of helping customers get the right sized helmets and then load into the sled properly. The great part about this is that I got to socialize with the clients and help get them excited for the ride. And then, once they were properly loaded into the sled, we would pull out the pushbars and give them a full push down the start ramp.

There's only one, minor catch to this whole situation: stopping. No, not the sled. I mean us, the pushers!

Have you ever tried to stop on ice while sprinting down a 50-meter ramp at full speed? And at the time I didn't even have my fancy bobsledding shoes with their 300+ spikes on each foot. No, back then all I had were my trusty (yet almost useless) sprinter track spikes with 8 spikes on each foot. Man, when you let go of that sled, you were doing everything you could to just stay on the spikes and not your heel, because once those spikes left the ice, you would would go down hard! Some of the pushers actually got to the point to where they would just fall down on purpose and slide to a stop down in Turn 1.

But not me, and definitely not this night that I'm talking about. There was a rather large group of passengers gathered at the top of the track and they were cheering us on, telling us to push faster and faster! Being ever-so-willing to oblige, we started pushing full-speed (which as you can imagine only made stopping that much more difficult).

And to make matters worse, there were a couple of cute girls in the crowd, so being teenage guys, we decided we'd try to show off. Ah, it just reminds me of that saying, "Pride cometh before the fall."

So on one of the pushes, we really ran it deep. I'm talking way past the point that I would have jumped into the sled as a driver. We just dug deep and then gave it one last shove before letting it go. We could even hear the crowd cheering us from the start area, congratulating us for our efforts.

Well, the euphoric feeling lasted about two steps. On the third one, my spikes slipped on the ice and my heel came down (remember, no spikes there) and the next thing I knew, my feet went up into the air almost higher than my head and my arms went out to my sides in an effort to catch myself. But alas, it was no good.

I came crashing down on my back so hard it knocked the breath out of me! My arms came crashing down onto the ice and I hit my watch so hard that it broke! In that wonderful spread-eagle position I continued my downward motion and slide down into the middle of Turn 1.

With a groan, I pulled myself to my feet, gathered up the pieces of my watch, and began the "Walk of Shame" back up to the start area amidst the applause of my coworkers and the crowd. I don't think I looked up once during that whole walk back up the start ramp. When I got there, my coach just smiled, slapped me on the back, and told me "I think you actually bounced on that one."

Ah, memories.... Thank goodness YouTube didn't exist back then!

Stay tuned for more postings about our most embarrassing bobsled moments where we'll further embarrass ourselves for your reading pleasure!

Obscure Exercises

So after 8 years in the sport and having worked with numerous trainers (a.k.a. Drill Sergeants in disguise), I thought it would be a bit entertaining to list some of the more....creative exercises that some of my trainers, coaches, and fellow athletes have made me do.

1. Run up the K-120 Nordic Jumping Hill - Yes, you're vision is quite blurry once you reach the top!



2. Push a car across the parking lot - Hey, with gas prices the way they are nowadays, maybe it isn't such a bad idea?



3. Football Fumble - Basically the trainer drops the football, you let it bounce once, and then chase after it. Perfect for entertaining everyone else but the victim.



4. Tennis Court Net Jump - Gives us some fresh air (and we get to watch the girls playing tennis).



5. Reverse Hamstring Curls - I don't even know how to explain this one! I'll try to get a picture of it up here soon. But basically you take the calve-raise machine and load it up with weight. Then you get in front of the machine and hook your feet into the cushions and lean forward until your legs give out. Your partner pushes you back up and you start again. Hurts? Oh ya. Effective? Incredibly.

6. Running Down the Bobsled Track - I think it was meant to be some sort of twisted speed drill (and knee killer). That's 8/10ths of a mile while dropping 400 feet!



7. Stair Jumping (with 45-pound weights) - Oh, it is easy. Just hold a 45-pound weight straight-armed in front of you, then frog jump up six flights of stairs without letting the weight drop. Three times.



Don't worry, we'll keep adding some more crazy exercises throughout the summer! And some better pics! But stay tuned because next time we'll be adding some of our most embarrassing bobsled moments!

Team Holm Heads to BYU

Just a quick announcement for all you Utah-Valley dwellers:

Team Holm Racing will be on the BYU campus Saturday May 17th, 2008 from 7am until, well...we're not sure WHAT time we'll be done on Saturday! But we'll be out there at the UHSAA US Bank State Track Championships 2008 with two bobsleds and a few skeleton athletes doing some athlete recruiting for next season's developmental programs!

So if you're in the area, come stop by and say hi! Just come look for us outside the track and field complex on the north-west corner of the BYU campus!

See you there!

Race for the Cure

Last Saturday (May 10th) I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" held in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Oh sure, it was only a 5k (3.1 miles) race, but the whole experience was unforgettable.

After staying up until about midnight Friday night to load some new tunes onto my iPod, I got up at 6am to get ready and get downtown to the Gateway Mall and find parking. Turned out to be easier than I thought, so I just sat in my car for about 40 minutes until it was time to meet my coworkers in Gateway itself. After waiting for the last stragglers to arrive, we headed towards the starting line to join the masses.

The crowd was huge! An estimated 17,000 survivors and supporters took part in the morning run. As I stepped up towards the huge balloon arch that represented the starting line, I couldn't help but look around at all the enthusiastic faces. Though some looked more somber than others, usually the ones with a "I'm racing in memory of..." tag on their back, the general feeling of the crowd was one of support, encouragement, and purpose.

During the race itself, it was both thrilling, and heart-wrenching, to glance at the tag's fastened to the back of the runner's ahead of me. I quickly noticed that there were two versions: one that was "in memory of" and the other said "racing in celebration of." Perhaps the most exciting part of it all was to see how many pink-shirted survivors there were mixed in with the crowd. Although I found myself focusing on the music from my iPod and trying hard not to crash into someone for the first mile until the crowd began to thin out, I also couldn't help but let my eyes wander from tag to tag. You almost wanted to reach out to each person and say "I'm sorry for your loss" or "Tell your aunt that I wish her the best with her treatments."

I've watched my little sister, Linnea, race in several marathons and I can know better understand why she loves it so much! Not that I think I'll ever be crazy enough to run 26.2 miles (hey, remember in bobsledding we only have to run 50-meters and then jump in the sled!), but I am looking towards doing some more 5ks over the summer.

Overall, the experience was amazing and I am so glad that I took part. And I guess, when it really comes down to it, that is what makes life so incredible, that we all have the power to do something with our lives, to take part in great causes, big or small. So now that you've read my post about Saturday's race, here's my question for you: what are you going to do today to make a difference in the life (or lives) of someone else?

Team Darfur Needs Your Help

Photo by:Lauren Bush, Team Darfur



As many of you know, a few weeks ago I was asked to join Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes who have bonded together to do whatever is in our power to end the suffering that exists in the Sudan.

Now, the children of Darfur need our help. On Monday, Sudanese government bombers killed seven children in their school, and six other innocent people who were shopping at the local market. The school was sponsored by Team Darfur's partner organization, Darfur Peace and Development, and we have featured children just like those killed in our Children's Stories Project.

The surviving children need protection from the bombings. I'm hoping you'll join with me in helping to spread the word that for the next week 100% of online donations to Team Darfur will go directly to Darfur Peace and Development's Darfur Schools Project. This money will help rebuild the bombed school and will enable other innocent Darfuri children get an education despite the terrible violence. Please encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to visit www.TeamDarfur.org/donate.

Thank you for helping us, your world athletes, take a stand to end the suffering and violence and bring peace to the children of the Sudan.

2008 "Race for the Cure"

Every year hundreds of thousands of people gather together for annual Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure." It is a movement that has inspired hope in women all around the world as millions of dollars are raised to help fund breast cancer research and prevention programs.

And with good cause.

It has been estimated that nearly 10 million from around the world could die from breast cancer in the next 25 years unless a cure is found. And if that isn't startling enough, in 2008 an estimated 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The facts are thought-provoking.

At Team Holm Racing we do our best to use our time and affiliation in such a unique and exciting sport to do as much good as possible. From motivating kids at schools, to speaking at black-tie events, it is an honor and a thrill for us to be able to help out and "give back" to the community.

That being said, we are proud to announce our plan to run in the Salt Lake City leg of the "Race for the Cure." We are excited to take part in this incredible event alongside nearly 16,000 other race participants. The race will begin at 8:30am on Saturday, May 10th, and while it only lasts 5K (or 3.1 miles), we have a feeling that this is something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

If you would like to help Team Hhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifolm Racing make an even greater impact in the fight against breast cancer, please click here to make a donation. Whether it is $1 or $1,000, each of us can do what we can to help end this tragic and heart-wrenching condition. Since 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, each of us most likely know someone close to us who has faced this devastating disease.

Please join Team Holm Racing in supporting the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" movement as we do our part to help end the fear of breast cancer once and for all.

Freak Snowfall Leads to Track Re-Opening

Salt Lake City- In a strange turn of events, Utah's historically odd weather led to the re-opening of the bobsled track in Park City.

"I can't believe it's snowing on the first of May," said Joe Citizen as he cleaned the snow off the hood of his Dodge truck. "I just mowed the lawn on Friday and here I am getting ready to drive to work in the snow."

Fed up with the weather's irratic behavior, management at the Bear Hollow Winter Sports Park decided to re-open the bobsled, skeleton, and luge track for the duration of the summer. The colder temperatures will allow the track to run without the exuberantly high cost that normal summer temperatures would inflict.

"Can ye believe it?" said Track Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott. "Ah dinna think we'd have the power to make it happen all summer, but with the weather acting the way it tis, ah am excited we'll get tah see athletes train on the track all year this year."

Athletes from around the world have expressed their anticipation at the opportunity to train at the Park City course all summer long.

Master Chief Spartan, team captain for the Halo Bobsled Team, was found preparing his four-man bobsled, nicknamed "Cortana," for use early next week.

"We'll be fine," he said in a deep, gravely voice. "It will be an honor to race and train all summer long. Normally we just pack the sled away in the garage and work on physical training, but now we actually get to get out on the ice and take runs down the track straight through to the beginning of the next season."

# # #

PS- Just consider this a one-month-after April's Fools posting in honor of today's snowstorm in Utah.

Team Holm Joins Team Darfur

I know it has been a few days since I've posted on here, but this is an entry that I am humbled to share with you.

Last week I was approached by the Olympic gold-medallist Joey Cheek to join "Team Darfur." Team Darfur is an international coalition of elite athletes who have joined together to raise awareness about the tragedies that are occurring every single day in Darfur, Sudan and to help bring an end to the crisis.

As the team's website states:

A campaign leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Team Darfur aims to educate the global public through the unique voice of elite athletes. Team Darfur brings together the world's Olympic and professional athletes to put international pressure not only on Sudan, but also on those countries that support the policy of inaction in the face of this dire humanitarian crisis.

I think it is so easy at times to forget that while sure, we face growing gas prices and a sometimes shaky economy that we really do have it pretty good. We get so busy with the day to day aspects of our lives that we unintentionally become somewhat oblivious to the terrible circumstances found throughout the world.

The story of Darfur is a heart-breaking one. While it would take, perhaps, a full history class to explain the crisis in the Sudan, here is a brief synopsis of the situation taken from the Team Darfur website:

The current crisis in Darfur, a region of Western Sudan the size of Texas or France, began in 2003. After decades of neglect, drought, oppression and small-scale conflicts in Darfur, two rebel groups mounted a challenge to Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir. These groups represent agrarian farmers who are mostly non-Arab black African Muslims from a number of different tribes. President al-Bashir's response was brutal. In seeking to defeat the rebel movements, the Government of Sudan increased arms and support to local tribal and other militias, which have come to be known as the Janjaweed. Their members are composed mostly of Arab black African Muslims who herd cattle, camels, and other livestock. They have wiped out entire villages, destroyed food and water supplies, and systematically murdered, tortured, and raped hundreds of thousands of Darfurians. These attacks occur with the direct support of the Government of Sudan's armed forces.

As we sit comfortably in our offices or homes or view this blog from our cellphones, let me share some brief facts about Darfur:

- 400,000: the estimated number of people who have been killed to date because of the fighting.
- 2.5 Million: the number of people who have been forced out of their homes and into unsafe camps and make-shift temporary communities within Sudan.
- 200,000: the number of refugees who have fled to neighboring Chad to escape the violence.
- 1 Million: the number of people who are currently living in their homes, at risk of attacks from the Janjaweed and the army.

These facts are hard to ignore. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine what a life such as this would be like. But the truth is that millions of human beings in the Sudan suffer from fear, hunger, and thirst and pass each day in deplorable living situations.

I am not sharing this information to put a "damper on your day." No, I am only sharing facts. As a member of Team Darfur I am honored to join with the best athletes in the world in doing our part to end the suffering in the Sudan. It is not a political movement, it is a rescue effort.

If you would like to know more about what you can do to help the relief effort, I invite you to visit the Team Darfur website. There you will find photos, videos, and stories about those who struggle just to make it through the day in the Sudan.

I also invite you to sign the "Fan Pledge" in support of your country's athletes who have joined Team Darfur.

If you would like to donate to the cause, Team Darfur has several options to do so. Team Darfur is a 501c3 non-profit organization under the federal tax code. All donations to Team Darfur go to support the work of Team Darfur. Donations to Team Darfur will also soon provide on the ground relief in Darfur, Sudan. The relief programs Team Darfur will fundraise for are focused on youth sports and education. So you can donate directly to the team or you can purchase the special Team Darfur sweatbands and headbands to help raise funds for the effort. These bands can be purchased individually or in bulk and you can wear yours with pride as a supporter of both your Olympic athletes as well as a symbol of your personal efforts to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Sudan.

As a team, we are athletes are united in our efforts to make a difference in Darfur. We ask you to join us in this movement as we strive to bring about an end to the crisis and provide relief to those in need.

Thank you your time.

-Jeremy Holm
Team Captain
Team Holm Racing
teamholmracing(a)hotmail.com

We Make This Look Good

Hey everyone,

After the response to looking at these images on Getty Images' blog, posted by Art Director Stephen Schauer, we decided to post them on here. The first one is definitely my personal favorite, and I can't wait to see the final products!

Enjoy!

From the Artist's Perspective

Dear All,

As you know Team Holm Bobsled had the incredible opportunity to participate in a photo shoot on Easter Sunday 2008 with Getty Images at the bobsled track in Park City, Utah. While we have posted several entries about our experience with the marvelously talented Getty crew, we'd like to invite you to read about the big day from THEIR perspective.

The art director for the shoot, Stephen Schauer, posted an informative and entertaining entry on Getty's blog that describes how they chose the sports, the athletes, the angles, the turns to shoot on, etc. In addition, you can be amongst the first people to see some of the shots taken by photographer Ryan McVay and his crew! Stephen and his crew truly made us feel welcome as a part of their team that day and it was an honor to work with them.

Please read his blog posting, "Operation Snowflake" by clicking here.

The Shoes in the Closet

The end of the season always brings a mixture of bitter-sweet memories and relief.

As I was getting ready for work this morning I glanced down at my bobspikes (bobsled shoes) just sitting at the bottom of the closet and I had to pause. I guess you could say it was one of those "Do I really do that?" moments. You know, when you stop and think about the crazy sport that we're involved in, sometimes it just seems so surreal. I mean, who in their right mind goes out and plays in sub-zero temperatures wearing nothing but spandex, then runs full speed ON ICE and then loads into a metal and fiberglass rocket just to hurl themselves down an ice covered track at 80 MPH? Who does that???

One can only laugh at the way we try to put our bobsled gear away at the end of the season. Of course each athlete is different, but I think it is rather similar all around. The gear bag that you just drop on the floor at the end of the day because you know you'll need it tomorrow has to actually be put away. The toolbox that you leave in your car all winter has to be stowed in the garage somewhere. The training gear needs to be washed and hung up or folded away. I've got three helmets on the top shelf in my closet, two speedsuits that sit in a dresser drawer, a box full of medals, two pairs of bobspikes in two closets, and a two-man bobsled sitting under a cover in my garage. Call me crazy, but I'm betting that isn't normal!

But it IS worth it. This last season was, if anything, a blast. We worked hard out there on the ice, don't get me wrong. There were plenty of nights where we froze our butts off for hours, then went home tired and bruised and sore. However, the great runs we had, the improvements we made, and the friendships we formed more than compensated up for the sacrifices we made.

I think that is the hardest part about the summer "off-season." You miss the sport of course, but you also miss the atmosphere, the camaraderie, the personal battles between fear and dreams, and of course, you miss the rush. It goes without saying that we have plans for summer training and so forth, but nothing beats unloading the sled at the start pad and saying "hello" to all the athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. In a way, all US bobsled and skeleton athletes are part of a very small, yet very close family. Oh sure, some members of this family hate each other, but that doesn't change the fact that we are part of a group of athletes who do things everyday that 99.9% of the world's population will never get to experience. With that knowledge comes a certain responsibility to represent our sports with honor as we may be the ONLY bobsledder or skeleton athlete a person may ever meet.

I don't want this to sound like we belong to some exclusive club. That isn't what I mean at all. What I'm saying is that when you're out there at the starting line, looking down the track, waiting for the green light to go, you can't help but get a grin on your face as you think about what you're about to do and who is supporting you out there. We're a darn lucky group.

So while I am planning to do some school over the summer, take some vacations to Las Vegas, NV, St. George, UT, a cruise to the Caribbean, and a training trip to Calgary, Canada, there will be, of course, a part of me that will always be thinking about our sport. After all the bruises, cuts, broken equipment, lost races, blood, sweat, toil, and tears, one would think that as athletes we have gone through a type of war. And I guess you could say that. We're veterans of a different sort. But the good times, the races won, the lessons learned, the friendships formed, the sponsors gained, the cheering crowds, the perfect runs, the personal bests, etc. all add up to form a type of medal of 'honor' that we will wear with pride for the rest of our lives.

And that is definitely something to smile about.

Wow, all this about a pair of $400 bobsled shoes. And you ladies thought your Gucci's were inspiring!

Smile for the Camera #2!

Ok everyone! Here are a few more photos from our Getty Images photo shoot! Again, these pics are courtesy of Amy Uratsu, so thank you Amy!

Smile for the Camera!

Dear all,

Here are some of the candid shots taken during Easter-Sunday's photo shoot with Getty Images. These images are courtesy of Getty's lovely Amy Uratsu. Thank you, Amy! We will also have some up on our team's homepage after the weekend, www.TeamHolmBobsled.com.

We will post some more pictures tomorrow once we get them edited down to size, so be sure to check back! Also, Amy was kind enough to provide us with some KILLER video as well. We're going to shrink the file sizes down a little bit and then get them posted. They are awesome, so we will let you all know when we get them ready.

Enjoy!

One of The Best Days Ever

On occasion there comes into our lives a day that is so touching and so powerful that we can never forget it.

Easter Sunday of 2008 was a day just like that for our team.

As we have mentioned in previous postings, our team was selected to participate in a special photo shoot at the Utah Olympic Park that was organized by world-renowned Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com). As athletes it was the greatest of honors to be selected to represent our sport for this project. For weeks leading up to the "Big Day" we were like kids waiting for Christmas to come.

And we were not disappointed when the day finally arrived.

Our day began early as we had to be up at the track at 8am for casting calls. While Don, Matt, and Brad worked to get the sleds up to the top, I put my special ice walking covers on and started hiking. I began at the finish line and walked up the 8/10ths of a mile-long Park City track, climbing 400 vertical feet in the process. Since I had heard the ice conditions had deteriorated considerably during our time off, I wanted to do what we call a track-walk so I could inspect it first hand. By doing this I could remember where the rough spots were and where the dangerous sections were so that when I drove our sled down the track I could avoid them.

Well, I got to the top and found Matt Griff and Tracey Anderson, our two skeleton athletes, were getting their equipment ready. Also, my friends Joe Sisson and Nick Vieneau, who would be our two-man team for the shoot, were there as well. We all sat around the start house eating a wonderful breakfast provided by Getty and signed the required paperwork for the shoot.

I need to pause a moment and say that from the moment we first met them, the entire crew from Getty Images was truly a pleasure to work with. They were all incredibly nice and so easy to work with. You could tell that they were very, very good at what they did as photographers and producers and assistants, etc. But to the last team member, they were so professional and courteous to each and every one of us. By the end of the day we were no longer athletes and photography crew.

We were friends.

Well, after breakfast we began our first runs down the track. Getty set up their equipment in Turn 14 and so Matt went first, then Tracey, then Joe and Nick, then our four-man team. We did this in order for three runs down the track and then they asked our team to go down a fourth time. It was incredible to drive down the track with all the shades that normally cover the turns were open. The sun was brilliant yesterday and as we roared through Turn 14 I could see all the photographers sitting there clicking away. After this fourth run we all took a break for a tasty catered lunch at the starthouse. During lunch we took time to get to know the Getty crew a bit more and they showed us some of the pictures they had taken from Turn 14. To the last athlete, we just stood there in awe at the incredible images that they had taken of us going down the track. In a way, I think it made all of us stand back and remember just how cool our sports really are. We kind of take them for granted since they are just common-place to us. But to see ourselves coming down the track and digitally captured by these artists definitely struck home.

After lunch we did some still shots on the start ramp. It was pretty cool, the Getty crew set up a black backdrop and we pulled the sled in front of it. In a way, this was one of the hardest parts of the day as we were in the shade with a breeze blowing so we were pretty cold the whole time.

But we all did this. We posed next to our sleds like we were pushing down the ramp, varying our positions slightly here and there. Then we pretended that we were loading into the sled, and then finally we all sat inside the sled and pretended we were going down the track. Muscles ached and burned from having to hold the same position for so long, but I can't express how excited we are to see the final shots! Again, the Getty crew were great to work with during this whole portion of the day, very patient with us.

After us came the skeleton athletes and then the two-man crew and then the Getty crew had to pack up and rush down to Turn 11 so we could get our final moving shots before the end of the day. By this time the sun was beating mercilessly down on the ice in some of the open turns and I could feel it as we went down our final two times for the season. Especially in our second to last run when the exit of 14 had become slush and actually pulled our sled's nose up instead of letting us come out smooth, so we had a bit of a flop out of there. But other than that, the runs were really good and our final push was a 5.68! Not too bad! And all but our first run were in the mid to low 51 second range! If we had run on better ice and had better runners, we would have been in the 50's every time! Still though, we were all so excited about what we accomplished that day.

After our final runs we went back up to the top for some heartfelt goodbyes and some fun pictures with all the crew and all the athletes. Afterwards we all packed up our gear, bid the track a fond farewell until next season, and headed our separate ways.

Despite all the setbacks we encountered this past season, despite the personal concerns we all had about our abilities and our futures in the sport (natural for any athlete, right?), and despite any obstacles others placed in our paths to try and keep us from succeeding, this photo shoot was the ultimate consumation of our hopes and dreams this season. Just when we were ready to give up and call the season over, the shoot fell into our laps and it was truly one of the greatest experiences I personally have ever had in my 8 years in the sport.

It reminds me of a Latin saying that I recently ran across that has helped me whenever something seems to stand in the way of my goals:

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

It means "I'll either find a way or make one."

Sometimes it isn't about how many medals you've won or how many sponsors you have. Yesterday was a day where we got to spend it with our friends doing what we love, surrounded by individuals with incredible talent and personalities.

Thank you to all the athletes, track crew for all their hard work and a huge thank you to the Getty Images crew for allowing us to take part in this incredible experience.

I couldn't think of a better way to spend Easter or to end the season.

Classroom Visit: A Little Child Shall Lead Them

I have a new respect for teachers.



Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at a junior high school located in the Murray area and I have to say, I had a blast. However, I definitely gained a greater understanding for what teachers have to go through everyday.

While the kids were a blast to be with, I learned that their attention span is about 7 minutes long. Anything you say after that just floats into the air as "blah, blah, blah."

Now that isn't to say that I didn't try. I mixed in a good amount of bobsled videos, props (i.e. my training gear and medals), and some online stuff from our team website, www.teamholmbobsled.com. And I think it worked, until I started to talk about the importance of college and deciding what they wanted to do in life. At that point I lost about half of them. But what was really interesting to me was the fact that the other half really perked up at that point. It was this half who knew what they wanted to do and were eager to talk about it. Doctors, dentists, police officers, authors, rockstars, soldiers, etc. You could see the passion in their eyes and how firmly believed that they would become what they wanted to be. And to me, that made the whole experience worth it.

We talked about what they wanted to become and then set out some goals on how they would go about becoming a doctor or a dentist or how they were going to fulfill a lifelong dream of driving a tank (pretty original, you have to admit). It was very refreshing to see their hope and enthusiasm for their dreams that we worked to turn into solid goals. It is my hope that they take that enthusiasm and apply it toward their goals in a constructive manner. You could see it on their faces, at least those who were really paying attention at that point: those who would succeed at their goals were those who wanted it bad enough to work for them.

I can't think of a better lesson than that.

We're ready for our close-up....

We just wanted to post this press release that we sent out about our incredible photo shoot opportunity that we mentioned in the previous post:

Utah Bobsled Athletes Immortalized by Getty Images

Team Holm Bobsled selected for exclusive photo shoot.

Mar 18, 2008 – SALT LAKE CITY—Following the successes of the 2007/2008 season, Team Holm Bobsled, a Utah-based United States bobsled team, has been selected by world-renowned Getty Images to participate in a special photo shoot at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City on March 23.

"We've been very successful this season, but to be immortalized by Getty is a dream come true," said Jeremy Holm, team captain and driver of Team Holm Bobsled. "I can't think of a better way to finish a full season of hard-work, dedication and sacrifice. We will remember, and be proud of this for the rest of our lives."

This season, Team Holm Bobsled was awarded first place twice in both local and regional competitions. The team has also medaled in years past during various competitions.

The photo shoot will involve athletes in still and action shots portraying both two-man and four-man bobsleds; skeleton and luge athletes will also participate in photos.

"The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are coming up, and it's our dream is to compete in front of the eyes of the world," said Holm. "This is one step toward fulfilling that dream; it will be both amazing and intimidating."

The pictures will be added to Getty's immense stock photo library and made available for various uses including magazines, newspapers, Web sites, etc.

# # #

About Team Holm Racing:
Team Holm Racing has competed in bobsled races on the national and international level and has been awarded 6 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze, with 11 top-ten finishes.

And there it is! A little shameless self-promotion never hurt anyone, right? :)