As pilot Geoff Gadbois and his crew prepare to spend the next four months competing across Europe on the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation World Cup circuit, their biggest challenge isn’t speed or skill. It’s funding. 

With USA Bobsled and Skeleton only being able to fund two sleds, Gadbois’ sled must raise $120,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to stay on the circuit, the series that plays a role in Olympic qualification. The total cost accounts for airfare, hotels, and air-shipping the team’s 500-pound sled overseas ahead of competition. 

“If I don’t raise the money, [we’re] done,” Gadbois said. “[We] can’t compete. It’s either I’ve raised the money, or I’m done for the year. It crushes your Olympic training before the season even starts.”

The GoFundMe effort, launched in September, is the team’s only chance at competing during the World Cup season. Under international rules, any sled that finishes in the top 12 at the previous world championships must compete at the sport’s elite level. All three U.S. men’s sleds placed in the top 12, disqualifying them from lower-tier events that are less expensive to compete in.

Only two nations receive three bobsled spots at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Germany remains the heavy favorite, with three of their bobsledders finishing in the top five during last year’s World Cup campaign. Switzerland is another favorite for a place in the coveted top two. The Americans, although coming from behind, don't lack in talent to compete against the top European teams. 

"We have phenomenal athletes," Gadbois said. "We have phenomenal equipment. There's a lot of potential there."

In Europe, bobsled teams receive funding from their national governments and sponsors. Germany’s program has a large budget dedicated to sled research, testing, and engineering, with Germany’s winter sports program bringing in generous amounts from sponsorships by adidas and Allianz. The Americans work with a $50,000 sled budget.

“Our sled mechanic has started making our own sleds here in the U.S., and that’s a game changer,” Gadbois said. “We’ve noticed that they are just as fast, if not faster, than the German equipment.”

Bobsled, he added, is “like an F1 car that doesn’t have a motor.” The sleds are built for speed, not comfort. Sleds, Gadbois said, are made up of thin, carbon-fiber shells with steel frames that rocket down the ice at over 80 miles per hour. Olympic-sized bobsleds can cost up to $100,000, and a single set of metal runners can estimate around $15,000-20,000. 

To ship the sleds to Europe on time, the American use air freight to ship up to 4,000 pounds of equipment. With additional travel costs, food, and race fees, the cost of one season adds up. 

“When you are trying to train and compete at such a high level, but then your attention is at a different place, it takes away from letting this group think about the chemistry, letting us focus on what’s important at this point in our lives, which is sliding and being able to represent the USA,” said Bryan Sosoo, a push athlete on Gadbois’ sled.

Bobsled’s limited finances are linked to the sport’s limited exposure in the United States. In the U.S., Bobsled thrives on Olympic coverage; however, early broadcast times during the World Cup season in Europe and lack of awareness regarding non-Olympic competitions can limit viewers. 

“It’s one of the most heavily-televised things at the Olympics, but we just don’t have that TV time like that when the Olympics aren’t happening,” Gadbois said. “It’s a very niche sport.”

Geography is another factor inhibiting domestic viewers. Germany boasts four tracks within a few hours of each other, whereas the U.S. has two tracks, one in Lake Placid, New York, and another over 2,000 miles away in Park City, Utah.

With American rapper Flavor Flav announcing his role as USA Bobsled and Skeleton’s official sponsor and hype man, the team is hoping to bring more visibility to the sport. 

“He will be helping an initiative to help those of us needing funding and promote it on his platform,” said Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, a push athlete on Gadbois’ sled. “Hopefully, we will see some effects from that.”

With the team gathered in Park City for preseason training, Gadbois and his team are balancing practice with outreach. Despite the obstacles, they are focused on the bigger picture.

"People competing in the Olympics are doing it for the love of the game," Gadbois said. "We're not doing it for money. We're not doing it for fame. We're doing it because we love whatever sport we're competing in."

(*USA Bobsled and Skeleton did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publish.*)