7:00am Friday 16th January 2009
By Phil Chard
DANIEL Davidsson believes Pirates’ pre-season team-bonding skiing trip to France next week could be another “masterstroke” by promoter Matt Ford.
British speedway teams are not renowned for going to the mountains for high altitude training.
But forward-thinking Poole Castle Cover chief Ford is taking four key members of his side to the French resort of La Plagne on Sunday.
Bjarne Pedersen, Daniel Davidsson, Joe Screen and Carl Stonehewer will take to the piste for a week alongside Ford and Pirates team manager Neil Middleditch.
Swedish-based Davidsson said: “It’s all about team bonding and getting to know each other better in a non-speedway environment.
“Joe and Carl are new to the team and although we know them already, we want to make them feel welcome and part of the Pirates.
“It’ll be great to go skiing with them and to hang out in a relaxed environment. It’ll be fun to do something together outside speedway, something completely different.
“It’s a good move from Matt. It will make the riders closer and hopefully enhance our chances of winning the league.”
Polish teams have been holding pre-season high-altitude training camps for years, and ex-Pirate Adam Skornicki – a skiing expert – is one rider who swears by them.
But Davidsson said: “I’ve been on training camps before, but not one like this, not for a week.
“Swedish teams have gone away for the weekend at low level, and I’m going away with my team for a few days in February.
“So I’ve done camps, but not for this long and certainly not in the mountains.
“I’m really looking forward to it and I’m really going to enjoy it, especially as I’m told Bjarne hasn’t skied before and Matt has only been twice so we should have a good laugh!”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk