Team NewCold and Dutch Sliding Federation kick off the 2026-2027 Season

NewCold recently welcomed athletes, coaches, supporters and partners to the official presentation of Team NewCold for the 2026-2027 season. The event marked the start of a new Olympic cycle and brought together the Dutch bobsleigh and skeleton community to look back on recent achievements and ahead to the opportunities of the coming season.

During the event, representatives from the Bob en Slee Bond Nederland (BSBN), coaches and athletes introduced the team that will represent the Netherlands on the international stage this season. The program also included a review of the Olympic Games, the unveiling of the new World Cup sled design featuring NewCold branding, and an outlook on the road ahead.

BSBN Chairman Wim Noorman joined coaches and athletes to officially launch the season. The coaching team includes Ivo de Bruin, Nico Semmler, Christine de Bruin, Joska le Conte, Ander Mirambell and Mareks Mezencevs, supported by physiotherapists Maarten Heisen, Homme Rodenhuis and Jolien van Schuppen.

Strong team across Skeleton and Bobsleigh

The Dutch skeleton team will once again be led by Olympic medalist Kimberley Bos, alongside Sander de Haan. Joining the program are promising new athletes Maris van Wees, Sebastian Jansen de Freitas, Marien Sips and Marije ’t Hart.

The women’s bobsleigh team features pilot Jienity de Kler together with Lucy Gillies, Mirre Eising, Manon Schoop, Mette Jacobs and Marjolein Bolten.

On the men’s side, pilot Dave Wesselink leads a team consisting of Janko Franjic, Timme Koster, Jelen Franjic, Damian van Loo, Gidon Bante and pilot-in-training Tobias Janssens. New additions to the squad are Joel van Gelder, Mike Schapendonk, Rens Fontein, Sem Reijnders and Bram Spoor.

Building on Olympic momentum

The presentation also reflected on the impact of the recent Olympic Games. Strong performances on the world stage generated significant media attention and helped attract a new generation of athletes to the sport. The increasing interest in both bobsleigh and skeleton provides a solid foundation for future development and success.

New look for the World Cup circuit

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the new World Cup sled design. Featuring NewCold’s distinctive orange, white and blue colors, the design reflects the long-standing partnership between NewCold and Dutch sliding sports while providing a bold presence on tracks across Europe and North America this season.

With a new Olympic cycle underway, the focus now shifts to developing talent, strengthening team performance and preparing athletes for future international competitions. Key priorities for the coming season include investing in emerging athletes and leveraging facilities such as the start track in Heerenveen to support athlete development.

As a long-term supporter of Dutch sliding sports, NewCold is proud to support the athletes, coaches and federation as they continue their journey toward future World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games.