Life Head First at 80mph

This isn't really skiing related unless you count it being partly responsible for dropping my ski days by 2/3 and it happening on frozen water.

Last season yentna and I started getting pretty heavily into Skeleton. You know, the obviously natural sport where you go head first down the bobsled track at around 80mph with your head an inch or so off the ice while at times pulling 5 g's.

Anyhow, I'm posting the link to a video of a crash reel from our team trip to calgary and a couple other pics from the season since some mags I have talked to were interested in seeing more.

First off, this is yentna in in turn 12 doing about 75 mph at Park City taken by SkiingBear:
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d/3658-2/Kimber.JPG

Me starting in Park City:
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d...d+Starting.JPG

Top of track in Calgary:
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d...icture+075.jpg

Canadians go to 11:
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d...icture+080.jpg

This is my foot after brushing a wall in calgary. The speed actually cauterized the knick:
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d...icture+086.jpg

And here is the crash real video from our calgary trip.
http://www.bradstewart.com/gallery/d/3663-1/youtube.jpg

Skiguide and Skiingbear are going to be up sliding on the track next season as well. ;)

Also, if there are any people interested in trying skeleton, there is summer push track training going on that is open to interested people. It's not in the track, just the first 50 meters on rails to work on loading a sled. [/end shameless recruitment plug]

That's fucking crazy!

In the vid, who are the two girls at the beginning? Is one of them Yentna?

That is some fun ass looking shit. Where is this summer camp? and how long does it last?

Tip, yentna wasn't able to make it to calgary. They are two sliders on the team, sara and cassie.

skisc, they aren't full camps in the summer, more like couple hour workouts 3-4 times a week. If you were coming from SC to try it I would wait until winter for a full on ice camp that is anywhere from 1 day(intro) to 5 days(full license). I can only speak about the Park City camps, but Lake Placid also offers different options.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

That's fucking crazy!

In the vid, who are the two girls at the beginning? Is one of them Yentna?

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If you're talking about the two goofing off and making scary noises, nope, not me. A couple girls we slide with, one from Park City and one from Orem.

I didn't make it to Calgary since it was my first season and I wasn't feeling up to a new scarier track yet, so none of those crashes are mine, (though I did have a similar crash in a race last year here in Park City).

Looks like I made the right decision looking at the carnage! The worst crashes were from some of the most seasoned athletes there, so what would have happened to new girl? I cringe.

Edit: posted at the same time as SM. :)

Super fun though, and really if anyone's interested in trying it out, we can bring people with us to try push-track. I think the first try is free, then it's 100 bucks for the whole summer, 2-4 times a week. Then if you're hooked, you can come to a week-long camp and get your certification to slide with the club. Good times....

that one turn looks like a bitch

Those walls suck. I've luged the Calgary track, there was one corner i'd come out of and slam the wall almost every time. Completely destroyed one of my shoes not to mention the nasty road rash on my ankle. Fun stuff.

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Originally Posted by Ski Monkey

Tip, yentna wasn't able to make it to calgary. They are two sliders on the team, sara and cassie.

skisc, they aren't full camps in the summer, more like couple hour workouts 3-4 times a week. If you were coming from SC to try it I would wait until winter for a full on ice camp that is anywhere from 1 day(intro) to 5 days(full license). I can only speak about the Park City camps, but Lake Placid also offers different options.

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Thanks Ski Monkey. I may look into the winter deal.

Crazy!
678

That looks like pure punishment.....no fun at all.....what's wrong with you two!

Whoa, that one turn coming out gets damn near everyone.

So what is the proper way to stop yourself and reduce ice rash? I heard "get off your hands", any skeletools padding under that suit?

The speed looks like a rush, the crashes look like they are not at all.

What was the one dude doing the "walk of shame"?

As phUnk would say, NOOB!

crazy stuff

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

What was the one dude doing the "walk of shame"?

As phUnk would say, NOOB!

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#1, he had to walk on his heels to protect the metal spikes from the pavement, since those shoes are $250 a pop. Ouch.

#2, he had to ride down with the EMT, not slide down, so disgrace. ;)

Beaver, was that coming out of the kreistel? Just about all of the skeleton drivers have issues with that due to the half oscillation at the end. That's where I hit my foot. I think even during the world cup there were only a couple people that didn't tap off the wall.

Buzz, that's turn 8. It's a tricky one because if you get into it wrong or too slow it also ends up with an extra half oscillation at the end and you find yourself going back up the wall as the turn ends. Not fun.

Anytime you lose your sled in the track you get a ride with the EMT's as a precautionary measure. He was actually back up sliding the next day, if not a run or two later in the rotation the same day. In fact, all the people that lost their sled were fine with just a little rash at the most.

The only proper way to prevent ice rash is to roll as it gets warm or wear enough natural fiber clothing under your speed suit so you don't feel it. The flip side is with too much padding you become less aerodynamic and slower. I wear light impact shorts to protect my hips from the sled saddle, elbow pads and custom orthoplast for my hands. These all help to protect from wall brushes that happen when you fuck up a turn exit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yentna

#1, he had to walk on his heels to protect the metal spikes from the pavement, since those shoes are $250 a pop. Ouch.

#2, he had to ride down with the EMT, not slide down, so disgrace. ;)

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OK, looked like he had a "rear accident" of butt ice rash , but your answer makes more sense.

$250 a pop? Hell, take some old shoes, stick spikes from the inside out and duct tape em in there! ;)


Is there a thrill you two don't seek?


Great job, can I look for you in the Olympics? :biggrin:



edit: Ski Monkey, I could care less on Aerodynamics doing 80 down a sheet of ice, I prefer to look like the Michelin Man if I ever try this. :)

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

edit: Ski Monkey, I could care less on Aerodynamics doing 80 down a sheet of ice, I prefer to look like the Michelin Man if I ever try this. :)

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dude, i'm ashamed of your thinking skills on this one - you prob. won't hit 80 mph if you look like the michelin man.. .duh.. think of race cars & drag...

that said, the first time i tried it I was somewhat padded & hit about 50. that was fun.. Just not enough!! give me more G's!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yentna

... if anyone's interested in trying it out, we can bring people with us to try push-track. I think the first try is free, then it's 100 bucks for the whole summer, 2-4 times a week. Then if you're hooked, you can come to a week-long camp and get your certification to slide with the club. Good times....

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When is the next push-track session?

Ahh, skeleton.
Definately a badass sport.
When I worked for the USOC I did some work for the skele team in lake placid during their team trials.(this fast fall/winter) Got to know some of the worldcup/europa cup team.

Do you know Noelle Pikus-Pace, Chris Soule, Lyndsie Peterson, Amanda Bird or anyone else from the upper ranks?


If anyone needs any runners/ sleds (Davenport) /suits etc. I know someone looking to unload some things.

that's sweet man!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ski Monkey

Beaver, was that coming out of the kreistel? Just about all of the skeleton drivers have issues with that due to the half oscillation at the end. That's where I hit my foot. I think even during the world cup there were only a couple people that didn't tap off the wall.

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It was the last quick little left/right before the long left to the finish. I'd ride the berm on the left turn too high then come down & slam the wall on the miniscule straight before heading into the right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

So what is the proper way to reduce ice rash?

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Bag Balm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skiguide

dude, i'm ashamed of your thinking skills on this one - you prob. won't hit 80 mph if you look like the michelin man.. .duh.. think of race cars & drag...

that said, the first time i tried it I was somewhat padded & hit about 50. that was fun.. Just not enough!! give me more G's!!!

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Well I am ashamed that you are ashamed.

My thinking skills are fine. I simply would prefer not to hit the wall so hard I break. :p

Do you think theres any hope of making the olympics at age 24...? It looks like awesome fun.

I could devote a few years to training!

Park City Helmet Cam Action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgIZ3Dft9pQ

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Originally Posted by bakers_dozen

Do you think theres any hope of making the olympics at age 24...?

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Well, we certainly hope so! ;)

IG - push track is usually Wed / Sat at 8:00am, and Tues/Thurs at 4:45pm. Due to my work, my schedule isn't at all regular for my push track participation, but we'll be going this Tuesday probably if you wanna come. I try to make Saturdays but next Saturday is another bike race....as you well know. ;)

beaver, i know the spot you're talking about.

xtra, i know a handful of the world cup people and most of the sliders based out of park city. When Noelle was coming back from her leg injury last season she slid with us in Park City a bunch. I've never met Chris Soule but yentna's interacted with him a bit. I worked with Lyndsie Peterson for a couple years at the Olympic Park and she was one of the people that first got me interested in starting skeleton. Never met Amanda but read her blog a bunch during the olympics. I haven't met many of the older placid sliders, just a bunch of the juniors.

If you're watching the skeleton pov video, it makes the run look way more rough than it actually is. It actually can be quite smooth. :biggrin:

Wow, that is fucking dope!! I want to try that!! :biggrin: Helmet footie really gave me that sensation of speed at the brink of control.

nooice. Does mass have any benefit in skeleton/luge? say a heavier rider going faster than a lighter one? I totally would sign up if i was in SLC.

Mass definately helps, but can't be solely relied upon. i.e. some of the fastest sliders are sub-100lbs, but just excel due to their driving skills. Mass can give you an advantage if you learn to drive well though.

Oh, and the heavier you are, the lighter your sled, so another advantage in luggin less weight all over the place! (PITA sometimes.)