skyrider 0 #1 February 12, 2010 Hours before the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a horrific crash in the luge brought a sobering start to the Games. Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia died after soaring off the track during a practice run. He lost control of his sled near the end of the track, went over the wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. Hours before the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a horrific crash in the luge brought a sobering start to the Games. Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia died after soaring off the track during a practice run. He lost control of his sled near the end of the track, went over the wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. The IOC has not officially announced the death, but the Associated Press is reporting it. The luge track at Whistler is considered one of the fastest in the world with speeds reaching over 90 mph. The first day of competition was to be Saturday. [url]http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/w ... -training/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fallinbear 0 #2 February 12, 2010 I guess a few people have had some pretty good crashes on this course...several are questioning its safety. Really? They're going 90 mph on a sheet of ice with little more than a helmet to protect them...exactly how "safe" is it supposed to be???I don't want to make all the decisions because if I screw up, then I can't blame it on you... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 February 12, 2010 Quote I guess a few people have had some pretty good crashes on this course...several are questioning its safety. Really? They're going 90 mph on a sheet of ice with little more than a helmet to protect them...exactly how "safe" is it supposed to be??? Hey at least with the luge you are going down feet firstI wonder if you can get some time on the run at Whistler after the olympics... I want to try skeleton.. I am used to going very fast head firsthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_(sport) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fallinbear 0 #4 February 12, 2010 Skeleton looks pretty sweet! Those peeps have some COJONES!I don't want to make all the decisions because if I screw up, then I can't blame it on you... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tiger6513 0 #5 February 12, 2010 Very sad, you would think they might have padded those pillars... wouldn't have helped much but would have at least been a good idea. RIPTravis Roy Foundation. At very least its a tax write off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #6 February 12, 2010 Quote Skeleton looks pretty sweet! Those peeps have some COJONES! Well you can always try the Skydiving equivalent....Speeding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dynamicedge 0 #7 February 12, 2010 I don't recommend watching the video. It's very disturbing. But it's safe to say that hitting that pole at 144km/h, he didn't feel a thing. RIP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #8 February 12, 2010 QuoteVery sad, you would think they might have padded those pillars... wouldn't have helped much but would have at least been a good idea. RIP They didn't need to pad the pillars. They needed to make the wall higher.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Don 0 #9 February 12, 2010 Yep! At least a catch fence.I am NOT being loud. I'm being enthusiastic! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #10 February 12, 2010 Looks like they took the link down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AviationTD 0 #11 February 13, 2010 +2 Unfortunately, I saw it on live by sheer luck. My prayers are with his family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Don 0 #12 February 13, 2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/12/olympics.luge.georgian.death/index.htmlI am NOT being loud. I'm being enthusiastic! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #13 February 13, 2010 It can be found on YouTube, but there are a number of YouTube entries that have already been censored. So who knows how long people will able to see the video on YouTube. Of course your CNN posts pretty much has the same views, only with still photos. So people get the idea of what happened. It sucks he died, they should erect at catch fence in certain sections of the course. But it is not a safe sport. Honor the fallen luge racer, close ranks and carry on. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beerlight 0 #14 February 13, 2010 Quote I don't recommend watching the video. It's very disturbing. But it's safe to say that hitting that pole at 144km/h, he didn't feel a thing. RIP Agreed. That video is tough to watch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #15 February 13, 2010 Some are the saying the course is built backwards to the usual ones. The hardest part is at the bottom instead of the top. Just a thought, maybe they should scrap whom ever they chose to light the flame. Then get four guys and this guy's sled, fasten the torch to the sled, and then carry it up to the flame. It would bring down the house . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murrays 0 #16 February 13, 2010 They showed it on the CTV news about an hour ago. A terrible start to the Olympic games. The Georgia delegation was just on to state that they were going to stay and compete in the spirit of the Games. RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murrays 0 #17 February 13, 2010 QuoteSome are the saying the course is built backwards to the usual ones. The hardest part is at the bottom instead of the top. Just a thought, maybe they should scrap whom ever they chose to light the flame. Then get four guys and this guy's sled, fasten the torch to the sled, and then carry it up to the flame. It would bring down the house . . . NickD He will be acknowledged in the opening remarks and with a moment of silence according to Jacques Rogge. Rogge may also dedicate the Games to him. I don't know if anything beyond that will be done. Terrible tragedy...22 year old guy with lots of living to do cut down at a moment of great personal triumph and achievement. I feel sick for his family, friends, teammates and countrymen.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites