speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour aboard a tiny sled cascading down a solid track of slippery ice for the sake of competition.

But this is exactly what Bermuda's lone winter Olympian Simon Payne has in mind come Sunday when he sees action in the luge competition at this year's Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

The sleek, high-speed piste, set in the tiny Norwegian hamlet, will stand as the mountain of conquest for Payne on his second foray in the winter spectacle.

Yesterday, the local policeman was in high spirits as he applied the finishing touches to his preparation after spending the last several weeks training with the United States squad in Europe.

He was pleased with the progress he has made over this period and noted the warm hospitality extended by his hosts since arriving earlier in the week.

"It's a fantastic Games, there's a great atmosphere here and the Norwegians have really taken care of us,'' said Payne, who has his own rooting section in the form of his wife and chef de mission John Hoskins.

"My training has gone very well. I was particularly pleased with my training in Austria and particularly my performance at the World Cup that allowed me to qualify (for the Olympics).

"I've been concentrating mainly on the positioning of my feet to maximise the aerodynamic effect as well as the positioning of my head and shoulders so that I can maintain speed in the long turns. The start must be explosive.'' Payne clocked 53.4 seconds over the three-quarters-of-a-mile course and was admitted to Lillehammer based on his attainment of the required percentage placing among the field.

The last three days has witnessed Payne taking his runs on the 16-curve track that will serve as his challenge on Sunday and Monday, with one more practice session set for today. His best time has been 116 miles-per-hour and he hopes to improve on that come race day.

Much criticism was levelled at Lillehammer organisers earlier in the week about the bumpiness and apparent danger of the track, mainly from German champion Georg Hackl, but Payne said that he had experienced no real problems.

"It has definitely improved with each passing day,'' explained Payne. "They (track workers) kept spraying the track with water and the ice built up about three feet forcing them to cut it, which made bumps.

"But as each sled goes down it gets smoother.'' Sounding jovial and relaxed, Payne said that he was much less apprehensive this time compared to his first Olympic foray in Albertville, France, two years ago.

Payne laughed while saying how he had been "strategically'' roomed next to members of the Jamaican bobsled team, whose participation in 1988 at Calgary spawned a Hollywood movie.

Temperatures have dipped as low as minus-30 degrees Farenheit, so Payne will not be wearing a pair of traditional Bermuda shorts during tomorrow's opening ceremonies, where Hoskins will carry the Bermuda flag.

SIMON PAYNE -- Bermuda's lone competitor at Norway.