Team Brazil - 2-women Bobsled in Park City, Utah

Brazilian Bobsled Teams Compete for Vancouver

With the season's first competition behind them (European Cup, Igls Austria), the Brazilian 2-man, 4-man, and 2-women's bobsled teams have arrived in Park City, Utah for the next leg of competitions toward Olympic qualification. All teams scored points but the women's team of Fabiana Santos and Daniela Ribeiro scored the best results of 92 points with a world ranking of 32. Brazilian team coach Arend Glas hopes to add points and improve the teams' rankings during the Park City America's cup which begins on November 28th.

In the sport of Skeleton, Emilio Strapasson will compete for Brazil in the Intercontinental Cup in Winterberg, Germany beginning November 25th.

Team Brazil at Challenge Cup 2009 - Bismarck, ND (USA)

Brazilian Curling Team to challenge the US again in 2010

Brazil will challenge the US in Grafton, North Dakota (Feb 5-7) for a berth at the 2010 World Men's Curling Championship next April in Cortina, Italy. The Brazilian team continues to train in Canada and has received support from Asham, The University of Sherbrooke, the Lennoxville Curling Club and coach Marc Richard.

"Participation in International events is a key factor for the growth of curling in Brazil," said Brazilian ice sports federation general secretary, Lisa Papandrea, "The team understands what they're up against and that's helped to strengthen their commitment - they've been working hard all year on improving their game. We're using the same formula with our curling program that we've used to develop other Olympic ice sports for Brazil which is basically getting athletes out there participating internationally and building from there. This strategy has created interest and generated more opportunities for growth. We've done the same with bobsledding and figure skating for example and now we're getting some good results."

The Brazilian Ice Sports Federation is aware that the biggest challenge for the future growth of curling and other ice sports is the building of facilities in Brazil. This continues to be their most important goal.

Synchronized Skating Seminar in Finland

As part of a plan to form the first Brazilian Synchronized skating team, Brazilian skater Elena Rodrigues attended an important seminar in Finland this past September. In addition to skating with world class Finnish teams such as the Rockettes and Team Unique, Elena gained valuable information that will be used to help form the first Brazilian Synchro team.

"During the off-ice portion of the seminar I was able to speak with Kathy Dalton, a technical specialist and coach from the Canadian team Black Ice," said Elena, "She knows so much about what it takes to form and coach a high level team. I was also able to connect with coaches from other countries that like Brazil, are trying build up their synchro program."

Rodrigues has skated with the University of Miami's varsity teams and is also continuing her training in freestyle.

Pilot Delivers!

It isn't everyday that a freight company gets a request to move a bobsled but Pilot Freight was up for the challenge. The 2-man sled plus container weighs over 600lbs and was being stored in a barn without a loading dock making the move more difficult. But Pilot's Boston office came up with an idea. A local company was called in to hoist the container on to a flatbed tow truck that could shovel it on to Pilot's delivery truck.

The sled made it to Lake Placid on time for the Brazilian teams to use it as they prepare for the Olympic qualifying season. Our sincere thanks to all the folks at Joseph's Pontiac in Norwell and everyone at Pilot!

Eric Maleson in London's Heathrow Airport - Go Rio!

Rio de Janeiro wins bid to host 2016 Summer Games!

October 2, 2009 - The Brazilian Ice Sports Federation (CBDG) congratulates the Rio 2016 organizing committee for their unprecedented success in bringing the games to South America for the first time.

CBDG president Eric Maleson and secretary general Lisa Papandrea were in London on their way home from heading up the Brazilian figure skating delegation in Germany when they received the news.

"It was between Rio and Madrid when we had to head for our gate," said Papandrea, "And as we hurried along the corridor at Heathrow, Eric pointed at the wall ahead of us where I could see there was a huge mural of Cristo Redentor, Rio's famous statue. That's when we both knew that Rio would win. As we boarded, I asked the flight attendant if there was any way to notify us on the plane and he said he'd try. When we saw him hurrying down the aisle fifteen mintues later he had two thumbs up and Eric and I started to cry. People around us looked concerned and I had to reassure them that we were crying out of happiness!"

As a member of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, CBDG will be involved in this historic time for Brazil and hopes to take advantage of the benefits as Australia did when they won the bid for Sydney in 2000. "Australia successfully used the Olympic summer momentum to also develop its winter program," said Papandrea, "CBDG will continue in building the necessary infrastructure in Brazil to practice ice sports which are quickly growing in popularity."

"We have a huge opportunity," said CBDG president and Rio de Janeiro native Eric Maleson, "The world will be focusing on Brazil, discovering Brazil and realizing that it's a big place. I always thought of my country as a sleeping giant - now we awaken and we will show the world that Brazil is a major player. With a population of over 190 million, Brazil is the 10th largest economy in the world and the plan is to become the 5th in the near future. This is our opportunity to shine - to show what we can do. Brazil has it all and we can't wait to share our culture and natural beauty with the world. It's a very exciting time for my country and I am extremely proud."

"I would like to congratulate Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) President Mr. Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Mr. Joao Havelange, Mr. Carlos Roberto Osorio, and everyone at COB for their vision, stamina and relentless hard work," Maleson continued, "Congratulations also to Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for all of their sacrifice and dedication."

Brazilian Skaters in Germany

Kevin Alves and Alessia Baldo both represented Brazil at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany last month. Kevin had his best skate ever and both athletes gained a lot of valuable experience.

"We're very proud of them," said Canadian coach Robert Burk. Alessia will join Kevin in Canada for training as they prepare for next season.

Brazilian Bobsled Athletes going for 2010!

Harderwijk, The Netherlands - October 6, 2009

The Brazilian bobsled team is preparing for their chance to participate in the 2010 winter games in Vancouver. Fabiana Santos and her push athletes Silvia Oliveira and Daniela Ribeiro hope to make history by becoming the first qualified women's team for Brazil and South America.

Edson Bindilatti, a two time Olympian in the sport (2002 & 2006), has made the switch from push-athlete to pilot for both the 2 and 4 man teams. His push-athletes are Fernando Reis, Marcio Sousa, Sergio Muniz and Odirlei Pessoni.

"All are excellent athletes - very strong," says coach Arend Glas, retired pilot of the Dutch 4-man team for both 2002 and 2006 Olympics, "Now we're working on the specifics of the start - power, speed, and synchronicity. The start is extremely important for the performance of the team and must be under 5 seconds to be competitive."

The team is working hard on improving their start before heading to Lake Placid for driving training. "We're having a great experience here in Holland," says Bindilatti, "Learning a lot. It's fantastic to be able to get a head start on the season."

The first competition for the Brazilians will be a Europa Cup in Innsbruck, Austria next month.

Loja de Inverno

CBDG is proud to announce our newest sponsor - Loja de Inverno (the winter store) www.lojadeinverno.com.br providing winter clothing and accessories to the Brazilian market for more than 20 years. As the Brazilian ice sports federation's official sportswear supplier, Loja de Inverno is proud to be supporting all of our athletes as they prepare for Vancouver 2010.

CBDG Meets Canadian Prime Minister

Brazilian Ice Sports Federation (CBDG) president Eric Maleson (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (right) discuss ice sports in Brazil.

April 8, 2009 - When Brazilian Ice Sports Federation (CBDG) president Eric Maleson attended the annual World Curling federation (WCF) congress in Moncton, New Brunswick, he had no idea he'd be meeting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Prime Minister Harper arrived to watch the 2009 Ford Men's Curling Championships.

"I know that Brazil has been developing Olympic winter sports and I read about your curling team," Prime Minister Harper told Maleson. Maleson informed the Prime Minister about the Olympic ice center that CBDG is building in Brazil and the Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm.

"It was an incredible surprise and honor," said Maleson, who was invited by WCF president Les Harrison to join the Prime Minister and New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham at the Moncton Coliseum, "It's inspiring to know that the Canadian Prime Minister is aware of our federation's work and a great boost of confidence for our Vancouver 2010 efforts."

Other good news for Brazil came during the Congress when WCF president Les Harrison announced that South America would have its own curling spot at the first Youth Winter Games which will be held in January 2012 - Innsbruck, Austria "This is a huge opportunity for Brazil in the sport of curling," said Maleson, "We're proud of our curling athletes who were the pioneers in the sport. When we challenged the US in Bismarck, ND this past January, one of our objectives was to demonstrate our commitment."

Bye Bye Lake Placid Hello Vancouver

The competition season is over for Brazil's ice sports athletes but there is still much to accomplish to qualify athletes for Vancouver 2010. Figure skaters Kevin Alves and Stacy Perfetti have returned to their training (Stacy trains in New Jersey and Kevin in Toronto) to improve their skills before next season and the sliding athletes (photo above) have returned to Brazil for summer training.

The Brazilian Ice Sports Federation has already made a decision regarding its bobsled athletes based on national and international criteria. Edson Bindilatti will be Brazil's bobsled pilot for both the 2 and 4 man while Fabiana Santos will pilot the 2-woman bob (push-athletes for the Brazilian teams to be announced).

"It was clear from the beginning who would make it and who wouldn't," said Brazilian Ice Sports Federation president and former bob pilot Eric Maleson, "All of the athletes who attended the Bobsled school in Lake Placid are brave souls and deserve a lot of credit but in the end it comes down to who is the better pilot - its the pilot who qualifies a team."

Skeleton athlete Emilio Strapasson, who improved a great deal during the training and America's Cup races in Placid, will do his best to qualify for Vancouver and Stefani Salani, Brazil's first female luge athlete, could also go all the way to 2010.

"Bobsled was Brazil's first ice sport and I'm proud that we've been able to keep the program alive - we have a new generation of pilots including the first woman's team. But now we hope to qualify athletes in other modalities too like skeleton, women's luge and figure skating. We've competed internationally in curling and short track speed skating, but it will be a while before we're able to say we're ready to try and qualify for an Olympics in those modalities," said Maleson, "And next is ice hockey - after many years of work to form the first Brazilian ice hockey team, that would be a dream come true."

Brazilian Skeleton Athlete's Second Chance

Emilio Strapasson missed the Torino 2006 Games by one position. It was a tough blow for the athlete but he's got a second chance - Vancouver 2010.

Strapasson, who has 6 years of sliding experience, finished 13th overall today in the final America's Cup race in Lake Placid, NY.

"The two weeks I spent here in Lake Placid training and competing in the America's Cup were very important," said Strapasson who lives in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, "I learned so much during the training week and was able to gain speed and reduce my time by two full seconds - in this sport that's huge."

"I'm very happy with his results," said Brazilian Ice Sports Federation President Eric Maleson, "He's ahead of everyone he needs to be for Vancouver - the best of the developing nations. But what he really needs is a new sled."

A new skeleton sled can cost up to $5000.00 and the federation is currently looking for sponsorship to give Strapasson everything he needs to improve his chances for Vancouver 2010. "Emilio turned 32 this year and really wants to finish his career with an Olympic qualification - to be Brazil's first skeleton Olympian. He's a pioneer in the sport for Brazil - he deserves it," said Maleson