return to Make A Difference > Local Treasures

Feb 2010  |  By kelly Konrad  |  Comments

Winnetka's Moriarty Going for Gold in Vancouver

It was a nailbiter to the very end.

Make It Better wrote about Winnetka's Jamie Moriarty's efforts last summer.  His bobsled team had set its sights on Olympic Gold.  But Moriarty didn't learn that his entire 4-man bobsled team would be competing at the Olympics until only two weeks ago. They got the invitation while they were competing in St. Moritz, Switzerland.   We hope this exclusive interview helps you stand up and cheer our North Shore hero to victory.

MIB: How is the team doing? Still feeling in sync? Everyone healthy?
JM: We are doing well, both as a whole and for me as a sled.  We are currently ranked #1 and #4 in the world in 4 man.  We have however, had one unfortunate injury this year.  One of our drivers, Todd Hays was forced into retirement after a crash in Winterberg, Germany a few weeks ago.  As a result of that injury, we have been shuffling around a bit trying to once again put together the right push crews for the drivers.

MIB: What is a typical day like right now?
JM: A typical day starts in the early morning (about 5:50 – 7 a.m. in St. Moritz because training is early in the morning) with sled work (preparing the sled for practice – putting runners on the sled, placing it into scabbards (more or less transportation bars that cover and protect the runners), and putting the sleds into our trucks to be taken to the track.  This week there are about 50 sleds (both men and women) competing, so practice lasts around 4-4.5 hours.   After practice, we have to make sure that we are maintaining our speed and power so we put some time in the gym, lifting weights, running, and doing plyo-metrics.  After all these activities, squeezing meals in when we can, we end the day with a team meeting to go over updates and changes for the following day/rest of the week.

MIB: What are you most looking forward to?
JM: I think that the first milestone that I am looking forward to (was) the official team selection.  I know that might sound funny, but until that announcement, anyone of us could end up going home and not competing in Vancouver.  That announcement (happened two weeks ago) after the races in St. Moritz.  After that, yes, the opening ceremonies for sure.   I have heard from my teammates and coaches that have been to previous Olympics, that they are one of the most overwhelming experiences of your life.

MIB: What's on the iPod right now?
JM: For warming up,…I have more intense music - I guess that’s what you would call it…to get the heart beating and blood flowing:  POD, 30 Seconds to Mars, Nickelback, Jay-Z, Juelz Santana, Linkin Park, etc.  Otherwise, my favorite artists are Bob Marley, The Fray, Coldplay, and John Mayer.

MIB: Any pre-competition rituals you'd like to share? Good luck charm?
JM: I don’t necessarily have any rituals or good luck charms…just a routine that I follow.  As warming up and preparing for pushing the bobsled involves a lot of timing, I have to follow a certain routine in order to be ready to go on time.  Every race your sled is off at a different time during the competition.  I need an hour of warm up time prior to the exact minute that my sled will be on the line and ready to go.  During that hour, I do my 2-part warm up, drink an energy drink, and put my speed suit, burn vest, helmet, and spikes on.  This all happens in a very specific order in order to keep my physical and mental state to where I feel most prepared and not rushed prior to going off.

MIB: What competitions are looking forward to watching rather than competing?
JM: If I can, I would like to watch Sweden in men’s hockey.  I have a buddy from Cornell University on the team.  Their competitions are in Vancouver and we are in Whistler so I’m not sure if I will be able to make it down to Vancouver for the event, but I am hoping I’ll be able to catch one game.  Also, half pipe would be another that I would like to watch.

MIB:Lastly, but most importantly, how are the team's finances? What does the team need? How can people help?
JM: It’s funny to think that in such an important year there would be financial strains, but unfortunately there still are.  The most noticeable strain on our team involves training and travel expenses.  The way our financial support works through the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation is that we are fully supported while competing (during the week of a competition) with hotel, food, training, etc.  The strain comes during the off days when we are traveling or training during the breaks between races.  During this time, we need to provide our own food, housing, training, equipment, etc.  That is where support would be most appreciated as it affects us more than you would think.

Want to help?

Bid in our charity auction! We've got a Team USA Olympic Bobsled autographed helmet on our auction page.

Or, if you are interested in helping Jamie in his pursuit for Olympic Gold, please feel free to make checks payable to the Utah Skeleton and Bobsled Association. Please do not put Jamie Moriarty’s name on the check, but instead enclose a letter that states that the contribution is intended for Jamie.

Jamie Moriarty
Jamie Moriarty U.S. Olympic Bobsled Fund
430 Greenwood Ave.
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847-977-1018 (phone)
847-835-1727 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Scott W. Hansen
Utah Skeleton and Bobsled Association
P.O. Box 581131
Salt Lake City, Utah 84158
801-746-6300 (phone)
801-746-6301 (fax)
801-231-7995 (cell)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more about North Shore athletes in Vancouver at MakeItBetter.net.