You're Pretty Sure You'll Never Be the Next Great Skeleton Racer

"Let's be honest, if there was one gold medal out there that I could, in theory, win, it'd be in the skeleton, right? Since barely anybody in the world even knows how to do it and all... " - You

The above is a little humor from an article written shortly after Duff Gibson's gold medal performance in Torino in February. It doesn't contain the most accurate skeleton info, but it's a very funny read. Check it out.

It has come to my attention that my readers and potential sponsors might like to know a little more about the process of becoming the next great skeleton racer. Makes sense as the article states barely anyone knows how to do it at all. The following is a brief description of the skeleton athlete's progression in the sport and my progress to date. Oh, there's a little about expenses too...

Can anyone do it? Well, the USBSF makes a cut before they even see you if that tells you anything. You must have a good athletic resume or perform well on the 4-item test (30m from standing, 30m flying-in, 5 hop, vertical leap) at a recruiting event to be invited to Push Camp. In June 2006, I met with USBSF Strength and Conditioning Coach, Greg Sand, at the OTC in Chula Vista, CA, to discuss the sport and my prospects. It was from that meeting (not to mention a series of fantastic and fortunate events that landed that meeting) that I gained my invitation to Push Camp.

At Push Camp, athletes complete the 4-item test and are taught how to push a sled using the two-hand method. You are judged on a variety of qualities including athleticism, natural push technique, motivation, coachability and the flexibility in your life. With a good performance there, you receive an invitation to Skeleton School; about half of the participants at Push Camp received an invitation. I was a standout on the push track with naturally efficient movements and I performed well on the 4-item test, but there is room for improvement. Prior to camp, I worked mainly on sprinting and it showed in my 4-item test results. Since, I have added a lower body power component to my workouts that will help performance on the jump tests and lead to faster start times- more later in a training update. I received a Tier 1 Skeleton School Invitation out of Push Camp.

The next great skeleton racer gets on the ice for the first time at Skeleton School. There athletes learn all things skeleton from how to drive a sled at 70mph to runner maintenance. The school in Lake Placid/ November also includes sprint training, the 4-item test and International training "watch and learn" at the Verizon Sports Complex. Successful athletes are invited to join the United States Development Program for Skeleton.

New U.S. Development Program athletes will begin training in January 2007 in Lake Placid. At this juncture, athletes purchase the major gear (a sled and other racing items) necessary to become a slider and compete. This training session lasts approximately eight weeks with time typically spent between the track and the OTC, sliding and training. It could depend on performance during that time or qualifying runs, but around the first of March sliders compete in Regional Championships. The goal for that race is to qualify for U.S. National Team Trials.

National Team Trials are used to determine the membership of the next season's World Cup, Europa Cup and America's Cup Teams. In an Olympic year, performance in the current season's World Cup races determines whether or not you participate in the Games! For more information on this process see the USBSF Athlete Selection Procedures.

Piece of cake right? Well, at least the writer of the aforementioned article was close on the financial challenges of the Olympic hopeful. He wrote, "There are other problems, too, though. First, it seems to you like you have to be independently wealthy to be an Olympic athlete. That, or get a bunch of sponsors, but who sponsors skeleton athletes? Otherwise, how do you make a living while you're wasting your life for four years training to be a top skeletoner? Now, I don't know about the time wasting part, and the "skeletoner" bit is way off, but financing is a tough proposition. Including Skeleton School, expenses are approaching $3,000. Assuming I achieve the desired result next month, they'll balloon to over $11,000 by January. On a student's budget this is impossible! Skeleton sponsors: please let me know if you would like more information on my expense projections/ refer to the post on the USBSF ATF for sponsorship details.

Sponsorship: A Tax-deductible Donation or Gift?

In the course of my fundraising efforts, people have been asking if sponsorship is tax-deductible. Yes, the USBSF offers the Amateur Athlete Training Fund for this purpose. Here's how it works:

Making a tax deductible contribution (the short story):

The sponsor sends the funds made payable to the USBSF - Athletic Training Fund to:

U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation
196 Old Military Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946

If the donor’s name and complete address is not clearly printed on the check, please provide that information in an attached letter. This will ensure proper routing of subsequent correspondence including the tax info/ receipt. Also in the attached letter, state that the funds are for me, Jay Beckner! Do not put my name on the check or it will be considered a gift (and therefore not tax-deductible).

Please let me know when you plan make a dontation so that I can check with the Federation to make sure the funds have been allocated properly. I will access the funds by submitting reimbursement forms to the USBSF subject to the rules and limits of the ATF.

I respect your decision to help and you will not be slighted on effort-- I will pursue this goal relentlessly. The financial need for the 2006-2007 season is $11,000. Thank you for your interest and support!


Making a tax deductible contribution (the details):

US BOBSLED & SKELETON FEDERATION
AMATEUR ATHLETE TRAINING FUND

Overview

The United States Bobsled & Skeleton Federation is pleased to offer the Amateur Athlete Training Fund (ATF) to help offset the training expenses of its athletes. Sponsors and donors may send donations to the ATF to benefit the general athlete pool, or a specific purpose. However, the USBSF maintains discretionary use of these funds if an athlete retires, is suspended, or leaves the sport. Additionally, in order to receive reimbursement of expenses through the ATF, the athlete must demonstrate the desire to participate and continue to participate in the sport of bobsled or skeleton. Attached is a list of qualifying expenses that athletes use as a guide to access these funds. The USBSF will reimburse athletes upon receipt of qualifying expense reports.

The ATF is intended to provide incentive for individual athletes to develop sponsorship to cover their individual bobsled and skeleton training needs while maintaining their amateur eligibility status.

Under joint supervision of the USBSF Treasurer and Executive Director, the following general procedures will be observed:

The athlete, and the Executive Director’s designate, will communicate regarding the specific dispersals from his/her training fund. The budget and audit committee of the USBSF will make final decisions with regards to any questionable expenditure.

USBSF Discretion

If an athlete helps to solicit donations to this fund, we will make every effort to assist that athlete in qualifying for those funds with the following exception:

Any remaining funds in an athlete’s account upon his/her retirement, suspension, or death will be used to assist other active athletes. An athlete will be considered to be retired if he/she does not slide for one entire season, and has not sent a letter to the USBSF expressing his/her intent to slide in a subsequent season.

Funding Allocations

100% of donated/gifted funds are available to athletes.

Gifts vs. Donations

Funds provided to athletes which do no qualify as “donations” for the ATF are considered to be gifts from the donor to the athlete. Gifts should be made payable directly to the athletes rather than gifting through the Athletic Training Fund.

If the sponsorship funds are to be classified as a “gift”, the sponsor will not receive credit for a tax-deductible donation. In this scenario, the USBSF will not need to report your income to the IRS.
The USBSF will assume all sponsorship funds received are “donations”, except in the following three specific cases:

1. A sponsorship will be considered a “gift: if the sponsor sends a letter with the donation specifically stating the sponsorship is a “gift.”

2. A sponsorship will be considered a “gift: if the USBSF is aware of any familial relationship between the donor and donee, regardless of intent by the donor.

3. A sponsorship will be considered a “gift” if the athlete’s name appears anywhere on the check (even in the memo section).

If the sponsorship funds are classified as a “donation”, the sponsor may take credit for a tax-deductible donation as IRS rules permit. In this scenario, if the athlete subsequently accesses $600 or more from those “donated” funds from his/her account during any calendar year, the USBSF will issue a 1099-MISC to the athlete by January 31 of the following year, meaning the athlete’s income for the previous calendar year will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. From there, it will be the athlete’s responsibility to report this income on their annual tax return. The USBSF does not offer tax advice and donors and athletes should consult a tax advisor.

Allowable expense categories:

skeleton sled with 1 set of runners ($2000), modifications to a sled (this total payable once- 500), helmet (when not supplied- 150), Racing gloves (when not supplied -50), Protective pads (50), Speed suit (200), Track spikes (2 pair- 200), Training clothes (when not supplied- 500), Sled maintenance (tools & supplies- 250), Transportation to various training sites (when not covered- 3000), Extra runners (2 pair - when not supplied- 700), Health care (1500), Per diem ($70 per day - 180 days max -when not supplied) per diem includes lodging&meals $60/day + incidentals $10/day (12,600), Track fees - annual cap (1,000), Dues, educational fees, and other training fees (i.e. Misc.- 2000, Maximum (24700)-- these limits are currently under review.


Making a gift:

Please contact me by email if you would rather send a gift directly to me. I will not comingle the funds with my personal accounts and promise to spend conservatively and responsibly toward becoming the best slider I can be.

Skeleton School Announced

United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR BOBSLED & SKELETON
SKELETON SCHOOL
NOVEMBER 13-20, 2006

I received my invitation to Skeleton School today! The email included info on when, where, what and how much. It will be held back at the Olympic Training Center/ Verizon Sports Complex in Lake Placid, NY on the dates above. The cost is $1,100 plus gear (including: mouthguard, elbow and knee pads, sweatsuit, gloves, running gear for sprinting in the gym, general cold weather clothing) and travel. The school fee includes housing at the OTC, meals, track fees and t-shirt.

Instruction includes: how to train for skeleton, how to conduct a start, how to drive a sled, how to do a track walk, skeleton maintenance and runner care.

Itinenary highlights include: skeleton training, watching international training, sprint training, 4-item test and push training.


Excited?

Here's what was at the bottom of every page sent by the USBSF:

HEAD FIRST FACE DOWN 70 MPH

I am.