Aussie bobsleigh duo's funding blues

It might be Australia's version of Cool Runnings but Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Kylie Reed aren't interested in a Hollywood script.

They'd much prefer some sponsorship so they can continue the sport they love beyond these Winter Olympics.

The pair, who race in the two-woman bobsleigh on Monday, are fairly well resigned to going their separate ways after Turin because they simply can't fund themselves on the world circuit any more.

Driver Loch-Wilkinson, 23, is likely to continue but Reed, eight years her senior, is really feeling the pinch of having to put in about $16,000 of her own money each year to compete.

"Its just money, physically I could probably go on for another four years," Reed said.

"It's an awesome sport but to get anywhere people will have to start backing it."

Unlike the skeleton, bobsleigh is not an official Australian Institute of Sport backed venture and the pair largely rely on fund-raising, their own reserves and parents.

"I work three jobs as well as going to uni and training," said Loch-Wilkinson.

"It's pretty hard for all of us, we are in debt up to our eyeballs. I probably owe my parents 20 grand and Kylie is the same.

"We put ourselves heavily into debt just to get to the Olympics - next season is going to be hard because we've got nothing left."

The pair is hoping for a top-12 result in the 16-team field to convince the AIS the sport is worth funding after sole skeleton representative Michelle Steele managed to finish 13th - with financial backing.

Not helping their cause at the Games is Reed's `flu but the pair have still managed to pick up in training to the point where they've recorded personal bests in the push starts.

They've already recorded a runners up finish in the second tier Europa Cup competition and believe with better equipment and training they could make a move to the top six teams in the world.

"Equipment is a huge thing in bobsleigh, it could make you five places in a World Cup," said Loch-Wilkinson.

"The AOC paid for half of our sled two years ago - all thanks to them for buying it for us but there's way better sleds out there.

"It cost about $40,000 and the top ones are probably 60-80 thousand."

If the pair do split up Loch Wilkinson will go on something of a recruitment drive, scouting for current or ex-athletes who may be interested in joining her.

On the hit-list are athletes who don't make the Commonwealth Games team, with Loch-Wilkinson eyeing off sprinters such as Lauren Hewitt.

"Problem is if you don't have money to pay for them they won't stick around," she laments.

"If they have to pay 15 or 16 grand out of their own money each year it's like 'see you later'."

The only other Australian in action on Monday is alpine skier Brad Wall who will compete in the giant slalom.