Steve Holcomb has been tearing up the World Cup this season. Holcomb, 26, grew up in Park City, Utah, but has a lot of family in Colorado. His father, Steven, was a linebacker for the University of Northern Colorado football team from 1967-69.
How do you explain your breakthrough this season?
At the national team selection races in October, our chief engineer said, “I think I have an idea how to make our sled faster.” He made a little modification to my steering, and it fits really well with the style of my driving. We just started flying. I did really well in the first race, and once you get that confidence, knowing you can do it instead of hoping and believing, it just kind of snowballs.
How did you get into bobsledding?
I was a ski racer in Park City for about 10 years; I raced with Ted Ligety and Bryon Friedman. I was always kind of interested in bobsledding. One day the local club was having a meeting. It was located in a brew pub, and I wasn’t old enough to get in, so I left my name at the door. Two weeks later, I got a thing in the mail for tryouts. Nine years later, here I am, sitting on top of the world.
What is your best training technique?
Aside from the mental aspect, it’s all about being able to move a heavy object as quickly as possible. It’s all about power. I need to accelerate a 500-pound sled as quickly as possible in 30 meters. It’s all about hitting the weight room and being able to move a lot of weight really quickly.
What’s the most frightening moment you’ve had?
Any bobsled crash can be pretty frightening. You’re going close to 90 mph and you tip over on a sheet of ice, which becomes extremely hot. You have a 500-pound sled now lying on top of you. You’re being pulled down the hill by this thing and it’s not going to stop, because it’s going 90 mph. You can smell the fiberglass burning. It’s pretty scary. One year we had a crash in Lake Placid, we landed on our side and it tore the sled in half.
What music gets you revved up?
I listen to a lot of electronic stuff.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
You can’t win them all. You have to take it in stride.
What do you know now you wish you had known before?
I wish I had known what I was getting myself into. It’s been a long, difficult, stressful road. Had I known what I was getting myself into, I could have prepared myself a little better mentally.
