Horific Accident at the Olympic

[0roo0roo]

The softness is irrelevant, as the plexiglass should act as a smooth extension of the track itself and define a sort of tube to redirect the participant onto the iced portions of the track. The flexibility of the net is actually more of a danger IMO as it allows a small chance of the rider being hurtled back onto the edge rather than the sliding surface of the track after the net deforms.

edit: the net would most likely be much cheaper

yup, basically allowing them to keep forward momentum and come to a stop slowly is best. net does have snag, all that matters is you don't stop suddenly.

as for the ioc...blah.

its not like those columns are vital to the track design, they just hold the shade cover, its just a poor design they can't back down on.

 

[Epic Fail]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-berliner/death-at-the-vancouver-ol_b_461300.html

Pretty damning article, the track was designed for 85 mph, but it obviously went over and they did nothing to correct it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Few torrents out there with the video ... RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili

 

[sandorski]

Not sure what a person is supposed to do with the information. If you're another luger and they're saying it was human error and you're like "Well, that other guy was pretty damn good, so what am I supposed to do to avoid the same thing?" it's not helpful information. Technically you could argue human error whenever anybody dies in an extreme sport that isn't directly attributable to equipment error but I can't see how they can ignore course variables. Going into a corner too early or late is quite literally how everybody loses or wins in this sport so it's not like other athletes can say "Oh, well, I'll just be sure to time my corners perfectly".

There's no time for major changes, they have modified the area to prevent a repeat. This track has been used some 8,000 times since it has been built, so it's not like it has just been used.

 

[TallBill]

Members of the Canadian team had over 300 runs apiece on this track. Other team racers were limited to 40 runs.

Wow, that's some boooshet

 

[shadow9d9]

When you participate in a dangerous sport, it should not be surprising when something bad happens.

 

[sandorski]

Wow, that's some boooshet

Pretty normal from what I understand. The IOC has rules regarding such things and they were followed. This is part of the advantage of being the Host Nation and is nothing new.

 

[SunSamurai]

When you participate in a dangerous sport, it should not be surprising when something bad happens.

You're retarded.

 

[shadow9d9]

You're retarded.

"Derp derp."

Why should I care that someone doing a dangerous activity got hurt? How can this be a shock to anyone?

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-berliner/death-at-the-vancouver-ol_b_461300.html

Pretty damning article, the track was designed for 85 mph, but it obviously went over and they did nothing to correct it.

As usual the Huffington Post is unbelievably retarded.

 

[spacejamz]

There's no time for major changes, they have modified the area to prevent a repeat. This track has been used some 8,000 times since it has been built, so it's not like it has just been used.

some of the smaller countries are just seeing this track for the first time this week....Apparently, Canada is being a total AZZ in letting other countries practice on it...

 

[sandorski]

some of the smaller countries are just seeing this track for the first time this week....Apparently, Canada is being a total AZZ in letting other countries practice on it...

Really? How do you figure?

 

[Dominato3r]

some of the smaller countries are just seeing this track for the first time this week....Apparently, Canada is being a total AZZ in letting other countries practice on it...

really?

 

[911paramedic]

I've read a lot of this thread, and seen the video, but I have a question. Was that aired live or was there a tape delay and somehow the video leaked?

As to the comments, yes it is a dangerous sport but that is (was) an obvious deathtrap. I cannot fathom the ignorance that went into that section, leaving exposed beams that close to the track. Forget getting thrown completely out, even if you ended up too high it would take a limb off.

How is Canada about handling international lawsuits? (I still hear the ringing of the beam.)

 

[Dominato3r]

I've read a lot of this thread, and seen the video, but I have a question. Was that aired live or was there a tape delay and somehow the video leaked?

As to the comments, yes it is a dangerous sport but that is (was) an obvious deathtrap. I cannot fathom the ignorance that went into that section, leaving exposed beams that close to the track. Forget getting thrown completely out, even if you ended up too high it would take a limb off.

How is Canada about handling international lawsuits? (I still hear the ringing of the beam.)

I think the IOC documents everything including those runs, so i doubt it was live.

 

[0roo0roo]

some of the smaller countries are just seeing this track for the first time this week....Apparently, Canada is being a total AZZ in letting other countries practice on it...

ouch, didn't colbert mention the canadians were being total azzes about letting the speed skaters practice as well?
heard they really wanted medals this time, will do anything to gain an edge.

 

[Dominato3r]

ouch, didn't colbert mention the canadians were being total azzes about letting the speed skaters practice as well?
heard they really wanted medals this time, will do anything to gain an edge.

Nah, i heard they gave everyone time on the downhill, freestyle and speed skating tracks. Ive heard they didn't give enough time on the luge/bobsleigh/skeleton tracks

 

[0roo0roo]

There's no time for major changes, they have modified the area to prevent a repeat. This track has been used some 8,000 times since it has been built, so it's not like it has just been used.

if i installed street light poles on the shoulders of freeways i'm sure more than 8000 cars would pass safely without accident.... but eventually...

 

[0roo0roo]

American comedian Stephen Colbert accused Canada of cheating at the upcoming Olympics on Thursday night during an episode of The Colbert Report.

"Those syrup-suckers won't let us practice at their Olympic venues," he said. "This is the most unsportsmanlike conduct by Canadians since it was discovered Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay is a moose."

His comments come in light of recent criticism from the U.S. and Britain about how Canada is taking advantage of playing host to the Winter Olympics in February. Athletes in luge and speed skating from other countries complained they had limited access to the Vancouver facilities while Canadian athletes enjoyed numerous training benefits.

Colbert wants Canada to grant access to the U.S. team, calling Canadians "Saskatchewhiners" and stating that the organizers of the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 let Canadian lugers go for at least a 100 runs at their facility. http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...uses-canada-of-cheating-at-2010-olympics.aspx

After all, Canadian athletes had been training on this course for weeks and months, so they had plenty of time to acclimate themselves. Members of the Canadian team had over 300 runs apiece on this track. Other team racers were limited to 40 runs.

No mistake. This was planned. We can only assume, in legal parlance, this was done to insure Canadian medals and give them an unfair advantage over the world. The IOC in knowing could only have been thinking about the mix of speed and danger that would mesmerize global viewers and perhaps increase those ratings one tenth of a point. This translating into more millions of dollars in revenue for their broadcast partners, and thus eventually, right into their bank accounts.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-berliner/death-at-the-vancouver-ol_b_461300.html

 

[sandorski]

American comedian Stephen Colbert accused Canada of cheating at the upcoming Olympics on Thursday night during an episode of The Colbert Report.

"Those syrup-suckers won't let us practice at their Olympic venues," he said. "This is the most unsportsmanlike conduct by Canadians since it was discovered Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay is a moose."

His comments come in light of recent criticism from the U.S. and Britain about how Canada is taking advantage of playing host to the Winter Olympics in February. Athletes in luge and speed skating from other countries complained they had limited access to the Vancouver facilities while Canadian athletes enjoyed numerous training benefits.

Colbert wants Canada to grant access to the U.S. team, calling Canadians "Saskatchewhiners" and stating that the organizers of the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 let Canadian lugers go for at least a 100 runs at their facility. http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...uses-canada-of-cheating-at-2010-olympics.aspx

After all, Canadian athletes had been training on this course for weeks and months, so they had plenty of time to acclimate themselves. Members of the Canadian team had over 300 runs apiece on this track. Other team racers were limited to 40 runs.

No mistake. This was planned. We can only assume, in legal parlance, this was done to insure Canadian medals and give them an unfair advantage over the world. The IOC in knowing could only have been thinking about the mix of speed and danger that would mesmerize global viewers and perhaps increase those ratings one tenth of a point. This translating into more millions of dollars in revenue for their broadcast partners, and thus eventually, right into their bank accounts.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-berliner/death-at-the-vancouver-ol_b_461300.html

Home advantage.

 

[Dominato3r]

There are also logistical reasons.

Cypress and whistler havent had any snow at all and allowing people to train would butcher the track.

Richmond oval is on sea level and even if the ice is refrigerated at -8 degress skates chew through it. Its been said multiple times nobody will break records cause the ice will be soft.

But at the same time they should have stopped Canada's practice time aswell. Letting them practice and others not is, kinda iffy.

 

[KMFJD]

Once again Atot amazes me, in less than a couple hours time some posters have become engineers with enough knowledge/expertise to decide what is safe/unsafe over people that have spent a lifetime studying this.

 

[sandorski]

Once again Atot amazes me, in less than a couple hours time some posters have become engineers with enough knowledge/expertise to decide what is safe/unsafe over people that have spent a lifetime studying this.

When Cancer is cured, we will be able to say: I told you so!!!

 

[Dominato3r]

I can't imagine what his family is going through looking at the medics trying to resuscitate him.

 

[Number1]

Once again Atot amazes me, in less than a couple hours time some posters have become engineers with enough knowledge/expertise to decide what is safe/unsafe over people that have spent a lifetime studying this.

It's not that complicated. I figures a higher retaining wall would have kept the luger inside the track and guess what. They installed a higher wall since the accident.