Van Den Berg joins Bobsleigh programme

The British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton have agreed a ground-breaking partnership that will see them secure the services of one of the world’s leading bobsleigh builders.

The two countries have extended an already close relationship to bring Marc Van Den Berg on board as Technical Director of Equipment across both the British and Canadian bobsleigh programmes at the start of the new Olympic cycle.

Van Den Berg has spent the past six years working with the US team, developing and optimising sleds and equipment packages that have enjoyed incredible success on the world stage.

Highlights include winning three of the four Olympic medals not claimed by German sleds at this year’s Games in Milan Cortina, with American athletes winning gold and bronze in the women’s monobob and piloting Van Den Berg’s 2-man sled to bronze in the 2-woman event, as well as fourth in the 2-man competition behind a German clean sweep.

He enjoyed similar success at the last World Championships in Lake Placid, with monobob gold and bronze, 2-man and 4-man fourth and women’s fourth, fifth and sixth, and his sleds were regularly among the top challengers to the otherwise dominant German team across the latter stages of the last Olympic cycle.

His new role will see him lead a shared British and Canadian sled building, equipment optimisation and research and development programme, with the aim of giving both nations the best possible chance of winning Olympic medals in the French Alps in 2030 and in Park City in 2034.

“We are absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Marc Van Den Berg in partnership with the Canadian federation and we are excited as to the impact this can have on the success of both nations,” said the BBSA’s Executive Performance Director, Natalie Dunman.

“Equipment plays a vital role in bobsleigh and we recognise that there is a need to close the gap on the leading nations in this area, particularly when it comes to the Germans, who have long been the dominant force, winning 15 of the last 24 Olympic medals. 

Marc’s expertise has led to numerous outstanding results in international competition over recent seasons and we are confident he can help take our programmes to the next level.

“We have long had a really good relationship with our colleagues at Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, working together to pool resource and coaching when it makes sense for both parties, and this move is a progression of that partnership at a time when both programmes have different strengths in different areas and competition disciplines.”

"Bringing Marc back to the Canadian bobsleigh programme is a significant step forward for our high-performance programme. He has a proven track record of developing world-class equipment that has consistently delivered results on the biggest stages, and we know firsthand the expertise and innovation he brings,” said Ryan Sommer, High Performance Director, National Bobsleigh Program. 

Partnering with British Bobsleigh & Skeleton allows us to maximize resources, accelerate research and development, and build a stronger all-around technical program.

“This collaboration gives both nations a real opportunity to close the gap on the world's best and provide the support our athletes need, and deserve, to achieve their performance goals on the track to 2030 and beyond."

Van Den Berg starts his new role in August and will share his time equally between the British and Canadian programmes.

 The 54-year-old, who has a background in elite motor sport and previously worked for the Dutch and then Canadian bobsleigh teams prior to switching to the US programme, will join the squads out on circuit at designated events but will spend his time primarily designing and refining sleds from his base in Lake Placid and at a soon-to-be-established European workshop.

“I am highly motivated to begin this new chapter of my career,” added Van Den Berg.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for me to work with the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton on optimizing their equipment and all other materials required to win races at the highest level.”

The new bobsleigh season gets underway in four months’ time, with the opening race of the World Cup season scheduled for Altenberg, Germany on the last weekend in November.