I sleigh like Santa, in spandex. I'm Jamie, Olympic bobsledder for Team USA. I drive a bobsled at 80 mph on ice, without a seatbelt, brakes or gas pedal. AMA!

Hi Jamie! What's your middle name and why I am your favorite brother?

My middle name is Hilda.... ;) haha because you made me insanely competitive.

Why are you responding from a separate account than the OP?

Sorry, I accidentally logged myself out and had to log back in when I refreshed to see if there were more questions, sticking to JamieGreubelPoser now. My bad.

What is your opinion on the movie Cool Runnings?

It's EPIC, and probably the main reason most people know about bobsled, but I'm grateful for that!

Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme. Get on up... it's bobsled time!

You can't do this to me... it's only August!! So fired up ;)

Who's your favorite brakeman....? 🤔

Who's your favorite driver? ;)

Not you because you lie about not having brakes

I don't have any access to, or control of, the brakes. They are in the back of the sled with the brakeman. I am only able to control the sled with the steering and the brakeman is not allowed to use the brakes during the course, only after the finish line to stop the sled. So I actually have no brakes as the driver.

How much training do you have to do on the track? Since it is ice, g-forces and gravity, it doesn't seem like you get to make a lot of choices out there. I'm sure the driver gets subtle choices they need to make, but the rest of the team on the sled look like ballast. (Note: speaking out of ignorance of the sport.)

Actually compared to other sports we have very limited time to practice our sport. We only allowed take about 2 runs down the track a day (one minute per run, so only 2 minutes a day!!). Only one sled can go down at a time, and there are a lot of sled on the World Cup circuit. Then only 6 runs on each track before we race. Then we move on to the next track and start all over. Video review, walking the mile long track each day before sliding and mind runs (visualization) help us have a little more time to think about what we are doing.

What does "training" consist of? Nordic skiers will spend tons of time running (in the off season) and skiing to build their cardiovascular systems to cope with more training and the actual races. They'll do a lot of strength training, some quite general and some very specific to their sport. And they'll practice technique a lot too.

What do you do? It seems to me like some squats and similar leg strength exercises are a good idea. And probably a lot of short sprints, probably with some weight to push. How do you practice the actual riding? What's off season like?

We train like weight lifters and sprinters in the offseason. We do have a bobsled on wheels that we can push to practice the start and the load distance, but I don't work on my riding position or driving in the offseason.

Netflix's White Rabbit Project did a really interesting episode about bobsledding as well, if you'd like to check it out.

Will do, thanks!

What got you into bobsledding in the first place? What made you decide this was something you wanted to do at the highest level?

I wasn't ready to be done with sports after college, but nobody encouraged to continue with track so I didn't even know it was an option, but I always felt like I had more. A teammate suggested that I try out, it never would have been on my radar otherwise. I am super competitive so I have always loved sports and it was the perfect fit.

What goes through your mind when you're racing down at 80 mph? Or do you let your muscle memory from training take over?

I just try to remember the few cues that I are important and trust my program and not overthink what I am doing or become to mechanical with my driving.

How does one get into bobsledding recreationally? Also how did you get your first opportunity to bobsled?

You can go to the track in Lake Placid, NY or Park City, UT and take a ride! It's open to the public. (I went on one of those rides)

What was it like to be raised in Philadelphia? Did you frequent the playground?

Yes! LOVE Philly. I'm there a few times a year when I'm not on the road for bobsled.

Hey Jamie, Some sports (looking at you gymnastics and ice skating) involve people training from as young as 3 years old. How long have you been training to bobsled and how easy is it to get into?

I have been bobsledding for 10 years now. Anyone can come try out for our team. It helps to have an athletic background. You fill out a form on the USA bobsled website and get in touch with the staff. You can compete in a combine which is a physical test to show the coaches if you would have potential in the sport. After the combine you would get invited to a push camp to learn how to push a sled and then possibly get invited to our national push champs and national team trials to try to earn a spot on the team.

How did you get in to such a sport? I know in communities like mine, football, baseball, soccer and basketball have relatively high access. What about bobsledding? How does one find the equipment/teams for it?

You would have to come to Lake Placid, NY or Park City, UT to try it. Not extremely accessible like the sports you mentioned, but it's a great opportunity when you are finished one of those sports! One of a few sports you don't have to do your whole life and could go to the Olympics in. ;)

Thanks for the AMA! I've always been curious how anyone gets into bobsledding. How did you start and then realize you were actually good at it?

I tried out because a college teammate suggested it. Athletes and coaches in the sport told me I had potential, I would have never known otherwise. I realized when I just missed making the Vancouver Olympic team as a brakeman that I had a chance to go. I got really motivated and decided to switch to driving and give it a shot.

I don't mean to offend, but are you insane? What causes you to keep going back and doing it again?

Debatably :) I love challenging myself and I want to be the best at what I do.

The scariest moment you've had in bobsledding?

I jumped into the sled on one of the hardest tracks in the world and realized there was a pin holding my 2 steering arms together, so I had no control of the sled. I reached my hands to try to pull the pin out, but my helmet would let me reach far enough. Luckily between the first and second curve the vibration of the ice and the cornel wiggled the pin out and I could steer, but my heart was pounding and I was about a blink away from crashing.

At what point in life do you pick up bobsledding, and what is the thing that brings you into that world? Also, what's the competition like once you hit the Olympic level? Is it a large community?

Most people get into bobsled in their 20s, after they have had careers in other sports (unless you randomly grew up in Lake Placid, NY or Park City, UT). It's a very small community but highly competitive within the community. The US has some of the top teams in the world.

What song is your favorite to play?

Blackbird by the Beatles.

Do you have any races in the USA this year? Where/When? I'd love to come watch!

Yes! That would be so cool! Lake Placid, NY on November 9th (my birthday :)!! ) and the next week, not sure what day but I think November 17 or 18 in Park City, Utah.

I have bailed on a toboggan when I was kid because 20, 25 mph was too much. This started a chain reaction that dumped the sled. Has anyone ever bailed on you mid-run or fallen off?

Thanks and good luck!

I have had a teammate slip at the start and I went down by myself. I also crashed and my teammate kicked out of the sled and the sled popped back up and I also drove down by myself. Both times I had to hop in the back seat and pull the brakes by myself.

If there is no brakes why is the guy in the back called the Brakeman?

There are brakes for after the finish line, so they do brake then, but everything I do to control the sled in the track is only with the steering. (hence no brakes while we are in the course)

What are the best and worst things about bobsledding?

Best- traveling the world, competing, being part of a team, going fast, going to the Olympics, competing for Team USA

Worst- crashing, the freezing cold, jet lag, sanding runners to get ready for a race

What is your favorite movie? (Fair Warning: I will be sad if it's not Cool Runnings)

Cool Runnings and Miracle on Ice! ;)

What Olympic sport would you compete in if not bobsledding?

Equestrian. Jumping really high jumps.

How does one get started in this sport? Always wondered how very niche sports get new people started

It's one of a few sports you can try later in life and have a chance at going to the Olympics. We don't really had a feeder sport, so most people either saw it on the Olympics and want to try or someone who knows someone who bobsled before suggests than an athlete tries it. It's a hidden gem in the sports world for athletes that want to continue post-collegiately.

Hello Jamie,

What are your plans for the future once you become too old to compete? I know every sport has an age limit for competing.

I have a masters degree in elementary education, so teaching!

Has your skills in bobsledding transferred over into other areas of your life? Did you ever get on a slip-and-slide and blow people's minds?

Does street fighter count?

Does it ever feel like you're wearing nothing at all?

Yeah... when it's -30 and I ask myself why I am standing outside in one layer of spandex.

Is a bobsled track in the backyard on your list of must-haves for a house? If not, how often do you get to practice?

YES!! Only about 2 runs a day down the track from October-April.