Luge athlete killed in Vancouver 2010 training run

Skybird · 02-12-10, 06:06 PM

Fastest track in the world, wrongly calculated for speeds of 130-137 km/h, where actually they drive speeds in excess of 155 km/h. there were serious safety concerns from beginning on, and it is not the first accident there, and at that part of the track. Some measurements were added, obviously not enough.

The problem has been underestimated or played down, maybe intentionally for spectacular effects (not the accidnet, but record speeds).

It's a racing sport with high speeds and high risks, everybody involved knows, at least should know what he is in for, and it is voluntary. the track should be shortened, and if a majority of athletes wish (I doubt it), the competiton should be skipped. but the rest of the games should go on, with some symbolic gesture during the opening ceremony.

ReFaN · 02-12-10, 06:13 PM

Tragic

frau kaleun · 02-12-10, 08:47 PM

That is just terrible. So sad for his family and friends, hope they make some safety adjustments so no one else gets hurt. It looks dangerous enough as it is.

Torvald Von Mansee · 02-12-10, 11:11 PM

It would seem that maybe luging should be done down a tube, like when u r at a water park.

02-13-10, 01:59 AM

Seems that the track in question is one of the fastest tracks and that the foreign competitors haven't had the chance of trying it out nearly as many time as the Canadian competitors. Might be a lawsuit or something in there somewhere, or the Georgians might quit the games.

krashkart · 02-13-10, 04:18 AM

CBS News last night tried to show me actual footage of the accident. I switched channels. About to give up entirely on network news.

SteamWake · 02-13-10, 09:55 AM

What they need is restrictor plates on those things.

Platapus · 02-13-10, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torvald Von Mansee

It would seem that maybe luging should be done down a tube, like when u r at a water park.

Five reasons just off the top of my head on why they don't.

1. You would not be able to see the rider which cuts down on the spectator appeal

2. It would have to be a very large tube so as not adversely affect the rider with wind.

3. It would be almost impossible to inspect the course for hazards

4. Maintaining a smooth ice surface in a closed (full) tube would be difficult.

5. If there were an accident the rider and the sled would be contained in the tube all traveling and bouncing at 90 mph. Imagine a food processor.

krashkart · 02-13-10, 01:43 PM

Mmm, processed food processor food... *drool*

Would make some sense to enclose the track to keep the luge drivers from catching serious air, but a crashed sledder would have to be extricated from the tube somehow. Plus, the above counterpoints ^^. At those kinds of speeds a dude's probably not going to survive anyway.

Platapus · 02-13-10, 01:53 PM

Unfortunately as the technology and the skills increase, the sport is at the point of being lethal if there is an error (mechanical, environmental, or human).

I suspect that there will be rules to limit the speeds as was done in auto racing. This will put a damper on the sport.

I, for one, am not fond of sports where the chances of people dying is very high.

02-12-10, 06:06 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,830 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Fastest track in the world, wrongly calculated for speeds of 130-137 km/h, where actually they drive speeds in excess of 155 km/h. there were serious safety concerns from beginning on, and it is not the first accident there, and at that part of the track. Some measurements were added, obviously not enough. The problem has been underestimated or played down, maybe intentionally for spectacular effects (not the accidnet, but record speeds). It's a racing sport with high speeds and high risks, everybody involved knows, at least should know what he is in for, and it is voluntary. the track should be shortened, and if a majority of athletes wish (I doubt it), the competiton should be skipped. but the rest of the games should go on, with some symbolic gesture during the opening ceremony. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-12-10, 06:13 PM	#2
ReFaN Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 831 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	Tragic __________________ Liverpool is my relegion, Anfield is my church. True believers never walk alone.

02-12-10, 11:11 PM	#4
Torvald Von Mansee Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA4528 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	It would seem that maybe luging should be done down a tube, like when u r at a water park. __________________ "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you" - Leon Trotsky Last edited by Torvald Von Mansee; 02-13-10 at 10:18 AM.

02-13-10, 09:55 AM	#7
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	What they need is restrictor plates on those things. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

02-13-10, 01:53 PM	#10
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,447 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Unfortunately as the technology and the skills increase, the sport is at the point of being lethal if there is an error (mechanical, environmental, or human). I suspect that there will be rules to limit the speeds as was done in auto racing. This will put a damper on the sport. I, for one, am not fond of sports where the chances of people dying is very high. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-12-10, 08:47 PM	#3
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	That is just terrible. So sad for his family and friends, hope they make some safety adjustments so no one else gets hurt. It looks dangerous enough as it is.

02-13-10, 01:59 AM	#5
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Seems that the track in question is one of the fastest tracks and that the foreign competitors haven't had the chance of trying it out nearly as many time as the Canadian competitors. Might be a lawsuit or something in there somewhere, or the Georgians might quit the games.

02-13-10, 04:18 AM	#6
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	CBS News last night tried to show me actual footage of the accident. I switched channels. About to give up entirely on network news.

02-13-10, 01:43 PM	#9
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	Mmm, processed food processor food... drool Would make some sense to enclose the track to keep the luge drivers from catching serious air, but a crashed sledder would have to be extricated from the tube somehow. Plus, the above counterpoints ^^. At those kinds of speeds a dude's probably not going to survive anyway.

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