Snow Skiing Channel: Ski, Snow, Resorts Guide, Area Guides, Weather Reports, Photos, Blogs, Reviews, and Videos » skeleton sledding

The Verizon Luge Challenge – Experience the Thrill

Editor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:02:34 +0000

Though luge has been around for centuries, not many people today know what it is or how it is done. However a company called ‘Verizon‘ has been attempting to change all this, bringing the challenge and appeal of this exciting thrill sport to people across the country.

If you are one of the many people who know little or nothing of luge, you will likely be asking yourself what it is. Luge is a sport wherein one or two people lie on a small sled, feet-first, as they hurtle down a pre-set track. The sport is similar in nature to skeleton and bobsledding and originated in the same place as both these sports – St Moritz in Switzerland.

The first official luge meeting took place in 1883 in Switzerland and luge enthusiasts have never looked back. Today it is usually practiced on the same tracks used for bobsledding or skeleton, but the starting point for luge may be a little further down the track. The sled is controlled by means of flexing the sled’s runners with the calf muscles or by exerting shoulder pressure on one side. Luge usually takes place individually, but a competitor version of the sport has arisen over the years wherein the competitors race against one another on the same track utilizing these small sleds.

The Verizon Luge Challenge was introduced in 1996 and has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year since. The event offers both children and adults a chance to experience the thrill of luge first-hand, but it uses a recreational form of the sled which does not quite reach the death-defying 145 km/h turns that some Olympic level sleds are able to reach on certain luge tracks. At each event the concept behind the sport is presented by the USA National Luge Team and proper technique is shown before participants give the sport a try. Those involved are able to practice and hone their skill several times each morning until the event culminates on an ‘Ultimate Slide’ challenge. The ‘Ultimate Slide’ is a complete track designed especially for the event. It features banked curves and timing equipment and is run on a sled made especially for snow instead of ice. Those participating in this final race are given racing bibs and are timed. Those with the fastest times in each age and gender category are given fantastic prize hampers.

The entire Verizon Luge Challenge event makes for a great family-orientated fun-filled outing. The event serves to educate the public about the nature of the sport, as well as increase sponsorship and support. This year it was held at resorts such as Thunder Ridge Ski Area and White Pass Ski Resort – both great resorts which are easily accessible. So why don’t you give it a try next year? You may just discover your dream sport!

Skeleton Sledding

Editor — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:39:27 +0000

Skeleton sledding is the kind of sport that extreme sport enthusiasts participate in only when they have tried everything else and lost interest. The concept is so dangerous that few people would ever dream of giving it a try. Others would simply view it as â€˜death on a sled’ and immediately condemn anyone even thinking of attempting it. The sport is also known as Cresta Sledding – after the Cresta Run at Saint Moritz where the sport was developed – and it is probably one of the most dangerous and thrilling snow-orientated sports in the world.

It all started in the small town of Saint Moritz in Switzerland. It was here in 1884 that the famed Cresta Run was developed, and it is here that the annual Grand National Championships have been held ever since. The Cresta Run follows a 1 213 meter long course from the town of Saint Moritz to the town of Celerina. The run was designed for normal sledding and it wasn’t until 1887 that someone first attempted the run headfirst. From that day, the sport of Cresta sledding grew. Soon a new sled, made entirely of steel with runners fastened to a platform chassis, became the favorite instrument for the sport. This new sled was introduced in 1892 and its â€˜bony’ appearance gave the sport the new name of â€˜Skeleton‘. Though it was popular among fans, it was not as popular as bobsledding and luge and so it fell into obscurity for a while. Fortunately, the sport was rejuvenated after some adjustments were made to several artificial bobsled runs enabling participants to enjoy the sport on a wider scale. The sport is unlike any other form of snow skiing sport since the participant lies on their chest, instead of sitting or standing, with their head facing forward. This prone position increases the level of danger since skeleton participants may reach speeds of more than 130 km per an hour whilst gliding only a few inches above the ground.

Today skeleton sledding has re-emerged as a popular and thrilling sport that has been a regular feature on the Winter Olympics program since 2002 and which enjoys a world championships and a world cup competition annually. In general, the runs utilized for the sport of skeleton sledding are slightly modified bobsled runs and, because of the danger involved, the sport is often seen as being more thrilling than bobsledding. So the next time you see a bobsled run, picture a spandex-clad man or woman with a helmet on their heads and their bodies carefully balanced above a small, torso-sized board speeding down the run instead of a bobsled. Simply put, that is what skeleton sledding entails and if you can stomach that, you can stomach anything!