Post
by JimboPSM » February 19, 2006, 2:47 am
Some 25 years ago I had a go on both the Olympic Bob & Luge runs in Lake Placid (as this was in the US I had to sign all sorts of disclaimers, blood chitties etc before being allowed on the runs).
The Bob run was with professional driver and brake man, there was no running start like you see on TV just the brake man giving a gentle shove to get us started, even without a running start it was one hell of a ride - I was clinging on for dear life, convinced we would either flip over or be flung out in a microsecond and was extremely relieved to reach the finish right way up and still in the Bob.
For the luge run you are all on your own but as a novice you start at the half way mark and you just let go (no mighty heaves to get extra speed at the start) - was going great guns to start with, shot round the first few bends ok, whizzed round the omega bend thinking this was easy and a split second later was face down on the ice with the luge on top of me, I think it was a zig zaggy bit which I zag ziggied or something like that - at that point decided that it was time to retire from my luge career and that life as an accountant would be more appealing.
As a result, I have the utmost respect for the guys who do these sports, I was dumb enough to think anyone could do these sports until I had a go and at speeds considerably slower than they do and I came well and truly unstuck.
For anyone wishing to have a go and wondering about appropriate clothing, start with brown trousers, bicycle clips .....
whats the best position to be in? As for luge no bl--dy chance. 
