The Whistler Sliding Centre reopened for business early Saturday, as the lugers took their final practice runs before the real racing began later in the day.
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Lugers say modified Whistler track is too slow
- February 13, 2010 5:33 PM |
- By Joe O'Connor
Story provided by
WHISTLER -- The Whistler Sliding Centre reopened for business early Saturday, as the lugers took their final practice runs before the real racing began later in the day.
Many of athletes carried heavy hearts, mourning, as they were, the loss of Nodar Kumaritashvili less than 24 hours before. The horrific crash that cost the young Georgian his life raised serious concerns about the safety of the icy, 1.37 kilometre track.
After an investigation by the BC Coroner's Office, the RCMP, and the International Luge Federation, a decision was made to modify the track by altering the ice and having the men start their run at the women's start line. The shift in start location shortened the course by 176 metres.
Sad as they were about a colleague's death, many of the competitors lamented the ILF's decision saying a difficult course was now diminished.
"It is not what I like," said Austrian Manuel Pfister. "It is too slow, from the start to [corner] 11."
The shortened run decreased the average velocity of the sliders by 5-8 km/h, though competitors were still hitting speeds in access of 140km/h during training. For many, fast as that is, it was no longer fast enough.
"It takes a lot of the excitement out of it," said Canadian Ian Cockerline. "It is a little bit tougher to get yourself psyched up to go when you know you are racing from the women's start.
"It is not a whole lot slower in the bottom section, but it is a lot slower in the top section and that is definitely a lot of the fun -- a lot of excitement -- when you are going from the top."
Canadian coach, Wolfgang Staudinger, said he and the other national team coaches were not consulted prior to the ILF making the change, and that the Canadians and the Germans had been ready to run from the top of the track.
"I never felt like [the track] was dangerously fast," said Cockerline. "I always enjoyed going fast here. I got a little kick out of trying to get that speed record. I think a lot of people in the sport feel that way. I think that's probably why you get into a sport like luge anyway. You certainly don't show up here expecting to go slow."
About the Author
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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