White Rock bobsledder Mike McCorkell got the phone call he was waiting for last week, when Bobsleigh Canada officials informed him he would be one of the “forerunners” at next month’s Olympic Games.
Forerunners are responsible for testing the bobsled track in advance of both the training sessions and the Olympic runs, in order to make sure they are in good shape for the main event.
“Essentially, we’re guinea pigs,” said McCorkell last November, when he was featured in the Peace Arch News.
McCorkell is a member of Bobsleigh Canada’s development team, which competes on the America’s Cup circuit. For much of the winter, McCorkell – who works at the South Surrey Recreation Centre – has been on the road, competing in events in Park City, Utah and Lake Placid, NY.
“There’s been some good, some bad, but it’s still the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” said McCorkell, who has been bobsledding less than a year after a long amateur career as a cyclist.
“But I still have a lot of work to do to improve.”
As a forerunner, McCorkell will spend the entire month of February in Whistler, living in temporary housing with the rest of his development-squad teammates.
“I heard that there’s actually bunk beds,” he laughed.
“But it should be a lot of fun. It’s going to be great.”
As an amateur, McCorkell is looking for sponsorship from the business community. Anyone interested can contact McCorkell at puzzleboy@hotmail.com