Skeleton scientist Kristan Bromley hopes his inside knowledge of track conditions will pay off with an Olympic medal when competition starts at the Whistler Sliding Center tomorrow.

Former world champion Bromley, from Waterfoot, Rossendale, is leaving nothing to chance as he seeks to land his first Olympic medal after coming up short in previous attempts in both Salt Lake City and Turin.

Bromley tested track temperatures with a hydrometer late yesterday prior to the first session of practice runs, in which he improved from a first run in eighth position to sixth at the end of the first day.

Bromley said: “Everybody notes the temperature but nobody else does it to the degree that I do it.

“I monitor every curve because understanding the weather conditions really could be the key here.”

Bromley – nicknamed Dr Ice – added: “I’ve been happy with what I’ve been doing this season. I’ve been building my momentum and asking questions and using the competitions to ask them.

“Sometimes I ask them and get a negative answer which is as useful as getting a positive one. It’s business as usual and I’m treating this just like any other World Cup. I’m going to give everybody else a good race.”

Bromley’s partner, Shelley Rudman, improved from seventh to fifth and Amy Williams was 11th and 13th in their runs in the women’s competition.

Rudman said: “It’s not really my track but I’m working on it. I just need to work on my lines.”