Esports gaming and skeleton crossover
“So far, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is the amount of crossover there is between my sport – and to be honest any sport – and esports, especially here at Guild,” Weston revealed in a vlog of the day.
“They are really trying to use a lot of their professionalism, of professional sport, and really focusing on routines, proper warm-ups, so it’s not just like if they’ve got a competition at six, they just turn up at quarter to six and have a go. They’re in a few hours before getting ready, prepping, it’s very, very similar and that’s the bit that shocked me the most.”
Warm-ups can, perhaps surprisingly, include physical stretches to maximise performance, with competitors also encouraged to sleep well and observe good nutritional practices.
Weston also tried Aimlab, software that sharpens the focus, dexterity, and reflexes ahead of a competition, with routines ranging from 15 to 30 minutes warming up basics such as flicking, tracking, and target switching.
The four-time world medallist in skeleton tried it out and thought he was ‘killing it’, until one of the teenage pros took over to show him how rapidly it could be done.
Mentored for the day by one of the players, Weston admitted to feeling “out of his depth” at times.
“Some of the language they use, it’s so mind boggling to me. Like when I was playing just now, Henry was like, ‘you need to do this’ or like, ‘pop a mini’ or do this, and I’m like what are you on about?
“He was like, ‘well, well do you prefer this one or this one’? And I was like, ‘well if I told you to go down a skeleton track and I said would you prefer this sled or this sled, you’d be like, well I have no idea,” laughed Weston.
After the first half of the day, Weston summed up his experience so far.
“I’ve literally been schooled by 16-year-old Hen over here, getting absolutely destroyed and made to look like I have no idea what I’m doing, which is probably right because I have no idea what I’m doing.
“But I’m loving being involved in David Beckham’s esports team, having some kids come out, and try and inspire them in any sports, whether that’s esports or my sport, I just love being involved really and seeing what I can do in the future with them.”
But right now, it’s an all-important tilt at a second world title, which would set the Brit up nicely for the all-important 2025-26 Olympic season.
Besides, how many gamers took up the reciprocal offer of a go down the push track used by the British athletics team at Bath University has yet to be revealed.
