A dramatic year-on-year improvement has left Patrick Singleton even more determined to pursue his Winter Olympic dream in skeleton.

The Bermudian athlete finished a creditable 14th and 15th in America?s Cup races in Calgary, and although a little disappointed he didn?t break into the top ten, was delighted at how much quicker he raced this year than last ? his rookie season in the plunging head-first down ice track sport.

?It wasn?t a bad result, but I know I can do better,? said Singleton, one of the better drivers on the international circuit, but consistently let down by his relatively slow starts.

?I wasn?t entirely happy with my performance and I know I could have been quicker. But my times were so much faster than last year, and my start is getting better all the time, so I cannot have too many complaints.

?I am making a lot of progress and there is still plenty of time before the Winter Olympics for further improvement.

?I was hampered a little bit by the sports politics that go on. There were a lot of Americans and Canadians racing in Calgary and they were all given full access to the track in advance and would have had dozens of practice runs.

?All the other nations were not allowed to practice there ? something that happens all over the world to ensure teams have home advantage ? so I only had six runs.

?In a sport like this, it can make all the difference. My driving skills help me out a lot but it is a big disadvantage.?

And Singleton admitted his start, although improving, was still the biggest obstacle to breaking into the top ten in these events.

?I did a lot of work on it all summer and I will be doing the same next year,? continued Singleton, whose shorts worn at the opening ceremony for Salt Lake City still hang proudly in the Olympic museum in Lausanne.

?There is only so much I can do during the season but I am working on it when I can.?

Next stop for Singleton is Altenberg in Germany, one of the most dangerous tracks on the circuit, but not before meetings in Calgary with his sled manufacturer.