By CHRIS SULLIVAN
KIRO Radio

She's tall, beautiful, from Bremerton, and was an ace in volleyball. So how did Bree Schaaf end up headed to the Vancouver Olympics in a bobsled event?

This speed-demon with a killer smile and even better laugh was just wrapping up her senior season at Portland State when she caught some of the Salt Lake games.

"The first time they had Women's Bobsled as an Olympic sport was in 2002 in the Salt Lake games and I saw that and I thought 'Huh, I'm big, I'm fast, I think I can hang with those girls.' It turned out I wasn't big enough because I was still volleyball size," said Schaaf.

She hit the gym and packed on enough muscle to push the 500 pound sled.

Before Schaaf could even step foot in a sled, the 29-year- old had to impress the U.S. Team by launching herself head first down the ice in the skeleton. She finally got her shot in the bobsled in 2007 and she's been going ever since. She won the 2009 US National Championship and took 5th in the February 2009 World Cup race in Park City.

Schaaf said it's a lot more complicated than pushing the sled downhill and hanging on for the ride. "Driving a bobsled is one of those unique skills that some people take to and some people don't. It's a matter of being able to feel and find the right pressure in the ice to push yourself faster in each turn."

Schaaf adds that it may look like they just huddle in the sled with their eyes shut, but "That sled does not drive itself. It's all pilot control because they're top heavy and they will tip over. That sucker is not made to get down naturally."

Schaaf is in great position to medal. She recently finished 6th at World Cup stop in Whistler, which is now the Olympic track.

Photo courtesy of breeschaaf.com

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• breeschaaf.com
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