Olympic BobsledOlympic Bobsled

By Chris R. By Chris R.

How Much the Bobsled WeighsHow Much the Bobsled Weighs

A four person bobsled A four person bobsled with the drivers have with the drivers have to weigh 1,500 pounds to weigh 1,500 pounds or 630 kilograms.or 630 kilograms.

A two person bobsled A two person bobsled has to weigh860 has to weigh860 pounds or 390 pounds or 390 kilograms.kilograms.

The bobsled is 12 feet The bobsled is 12 feet long.long.

The Track & the RaceThe Track & the Race

The bobsled goes up The bobsled goes up to eighty miles per to eighty miles per hour.hour.

The track is 1,500 The track is 1,500 meters long.meters long.

The pushers push it The pushers push it fifty meters.fifty meters.

There has to be fifteen There has to be fifteen icy twists and turns.icy twists and turns.

Players on the team Players on the team In two men bobsledding In two men bobsledding

there is one pusher or there is one pusher or brakeman and one driverbrakeman and one driver

In a four-man bobsled In a four-man bobsled there are three pushers there are three pushers and one driver and one driver

The driver navigates the The driver navigates the bobsled, while the pushers bobsled, while the pushers give it energy to move.give it energy to move.

Pusher pushes sled from Pusher pushes sled from starting point to 50 meters starting point to 50 meters away and jumps in.away and jumps in.

The riders would bob back The riders would bob back and fourth to make the and fourth to make the sled go as fast as possible, sled go as fast as possible, this is how the sport got its this is how the sport got its name.name.

Olympic overviewOlympic overview

Germans and Swiss historically produced Germans and Swiss historically produced the world’s best bobsledders.the world’s best bobsledders.

Combining to win 19 out of the last 34 Combining to win 19 out of the last 34 gold medals. gold medals.

United States has not medaled in United States has not medaled in bobsledding since 1956. bobsledding since 1956.

Bogdan Musiol won seven medals one gold Bogdan Musiol won seven medals one gold five silver and one bronze. five silver and one bronze.

Bogdan Musiol Bobsledded for The United Bogdan Musiol Bobsledded for The United States in 1956States in 1956

Origin of eventOrigin of event The origin of bobsledding is uncertain.The origin of bobsledding is uncertain. Some say it came from the Algonquin Indians who Some say it came from the Algonquin Indians who

found an easier way to carry loads in the snow in found an easier way to carry loads in the snow in sleds. sleds.

One story said that bobsledding began in the One story said that bobsledding began in the 1880s in Albany N.Y. 1880s in Albany N.Y.

Europeans claimed that it started in Switzerland Europeans claimed that it started in Switzerland where the first toboggan race was held in 1883.where the first toboggan race was held in 1883.

Toboggan racing is like bobsledding only in the Toboggan racing is like bobsledding only in the old times when they did not have bobsleds. old times when they did not have bobsleds.

BobrunsBobruns

There are only 16 Bobruns in the world.There are only 16 Bobruns in the world. Bobruns are the tracks in which Bobruns are the tracks in which

bobsledding is played. bobsledding is played. The longest bobrun was 5,781 feet. The longest bobrun was 5,781 feet. The first United States bobrun was built in The first United States bobrun was built in

Lake Placid in the 1932 winter Olympics.Lake Placid in the 1932 winter Olympics. The walls of the bobrun are made of The walls of the bobrun are made of

concrete covered by ice snow and large concrete covered by ice snow and large ice blocks. ice blocks.

How to become a bobsled racerHow to become a bobsled racer

To ride a bobsled you need a license.To ride a bobsled you need a license. To get one you have to pass a To get one you have to pass a

physical examination. physical examination. Then expert drivers teach them. Then expert drivers teach them. If they pass the driving test the are If they pass the driving test the are

granted their license.granted their license.

Who will compete in bobsled Who will compete in bobsled races?races?

In 2002 women started to become In 2002 women started to become familiar and accepted into the game.familiar and accepted into the game.

Men have been competing in these Men have been competing in these races since 1932.races since 1932.

Bobsledding is a public sport.Bobsledding is a public sport.

Fastest timesFastest times Men:Men: 4 man4 man Christoph Langen from Germany- 2min.39 sec. (1998)Christoph Langen from Germany- 2min.39 sec. (1998) Andre Lange from Germany- 3min.7sec. (2002)Andre Lange from Germany- 3min.7sec. (2002) Wolfgang Hoppe from East Germany- 3min. 20sec. (1984)Wolfgang Hoppe from East Germany- 3min. 20sec. (1984) 2 man2 man Christoph Langen from Germany- 3min 10sec (2002)Christoph Langen from Germany- 3min 10sec (2002) Wolfgang Hoppe from East Germany- 3min. 25sec. (1984)Wolfgang Hoppe from East Germany- 3min. 25sec. (1984) Weder Acklin from Switzerland- 3min. 30sec. (1994)Weder Acklin from Switzerland- 3min. 30sec. (1994) Women:Women: 2 women2 women Jill Bakken from U.S.- 1min. 37sec. (2002)Jill Bakken from U.S.- 1min. 37sec. (2002)

BobsledBobsled

Bodies of bobsled are often made of Bodies of bobsled are often made of graphite or other lightweight graphite or other lightweight materials.materials.

Body of the sled helps protect the Body of the sled helps protect the riders and the steering mechanism. riders and the steering mechanism.

Streamlined designs help cut down Streamlined designs help cut down wind resistance making faster speed wind resistance making faster speed possible.possible.

GearGear

Tight body suitsTight body suits Hard plastic helmetsHard plastic helmets GogglesGoggles Reinforced glovesReinforced gloves Spiked shoes Spiked shoes

ConclusionConclusion

If you ever are interested in racing a If you ever are interested in racing a bobsled you can try out for the bobsled you can try out for the Olympics or just get a license and Olympics or just get a license and buy a bobsled. Off you go. buy a bobsled. Off you go.