Bobsleigh

You may have the strength of wet tissue paper, the speed of a potted plant, but Pierre Lueders wants you. For his World Cup two-man and four-man bobsleigh crews.

Canada's premier bobsleigh pilot has initiated a come-fly-with-me campaign that will allow on-line bidders to pay for the right to have their name brandished on his sleds during the 2009-2010 World Cup season. The bidding, currently underway on e-Bay until Nov. 6, is a novel fundraiser for the 39-year-old Lueders as he readies for his fifth Winter Olympics.

What Lueders is looking for is an individual who wants to "feel a part of the Olympic build-up." The winning bidder will not only have their name stenciled onto the front bumper and sides of the sleds, he or she will also get to ride with Lueders down the bobsleigh track in either Calgary or Vancouver.

No word on whether Lueders will spring for the Gravol.

"It's the chance for someone who enjoys bobsledding to have the thrill of a lifetime," Lueders explained yesterday from Canada Olympic Park. "We're the only sport where you can go to the venue, put on the equipment and be with the guys. I can't play hockey with Sidney Crosby or throw the (curling) stones with Kevin Martin. But somebody who wants to experience bobsledding can pick their hill and come with me."

Lueders came up with the idea while chatting with his wife and some friends. The goal was to help offset some of Lueders' training costs while engaging Canadians in a sport that now boasts the worlds' fastest and most demanding track at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

By offering up ad space on his sleds, and incorporating an honorary team member, Lueders is hopeful he can raise the sports' profile so it benefits long after the Vancouver Olympics.

"We're trying to promote the sport. We now have two great venues. How do we carry on after the Olympics? We can try be engaging more Canadians," he said.

Asked how much money he expected to raise, Lueders wasn't sure. He noted the bidding began at $50 because "we didn't want to start with a number that was too high. We wanted it available to all people."

Lueders cautioned that the wining bidder's name could not be on his sled during the Olympics, due to IOC restrictions, and acknowledged he was aware that the winner may not be a Canadian.

"I have a feeling it will be a Canadian, although someone from the States has already contacted us."

Lueders, who won two-man gold at the 1998 Olympics and silver in 2006, is presently enjoying an off-week. Come next month, he and the rest of the Canadian team will attend an international training week in Whistler before heading to Park City, Utah for the first World Cup race of the season.

Known for his demanding nature, Lueders is still tinkering with his crew to determine which three athletes will give him the best shot at winning in the four-man.

"All the guys are very aware this isn't just my decision. Bobsleigh Canada is involved so that it's what's best for Canada," said Lueders. "We all want the best athletes we can get behind me. We don't want to be left asking, 'Did we put our three best people with me or Lyndon Rush ...?' I believe we have the talent."

Lueders has been running with former Canadian university track star Neville Wright as a brakeman in the two-man event. Wright, Justin Kripps, Dave Bissett and Ken Kotyk have been vying for permanent spots in the four-man.