Some Canadian skeleton athletes hope home-grown technology will help them reach the podium at the 2014 Olympics.
They are working with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to design smaller, faster and more comfortable sleds.
National skeleton athlete John Fairbairn says every millisecond matters.
“It’s all about that competitive advantage.”
SAIT's Director of Applied Research and Innovation Services, Alex Zahavich, says the partnership is also more convenient.
“We can have new prototypes out at the track at COP or Canmore very quickly so they can test ideas relatively quickly rather than waiting for something to come from Europe, or even having to go to Europe to test it,” says Zahavich.
Fairbairn hopes to take his SAIT sled to the next level next season by qualifying for a spot in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.