Bobsleighing – The Adrenaline Winter Sport
The Sport
Both men and women compete in the sport of bobsleigh, a sport that combines speed, power and agility. There are two person races for men and women. Men also have a four-man event. Bobsleigh is one of the original sports in the Olympic Winter Games.
The Bobsled
The Bobsled is an aerodynamic machine made of fiberglass and steel, mounted on four highly polished steel runners. The two front runners have approximately three inches of lateral movement and are attached to ropes held by the driver, who steers the sled. The brake handles are located on either side of the brakeman in the four-man sled and in front of the brakeman in the two-man sled. The temperature of the steel runners is taken electronically immediately prior to each race. Heating the runners is illegal. At the finish line, the sled and crew are weighed to ensure they are below the maximum weight. All sleds are standardized according to specifications set by the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT). Read the rest of this entry »
Ice Skating Tips and Techniques
Posted by admin in Ice Skating on June 9, 2011
Ice skating enthusiasts use skates with steel blades to slide on indoor or outdoor ice rinks. The first ice skates were made in 3000 BC. Honed animal bone was used in making these skates and it was attached to the feet with leather straps. In fact, the origin of the word ‘skates’ is Dutch, which means ‘leg bone’. Iron blades were first made and used in Holland in 1250 AD. It garnered popularity as a winter sport among the Europeans, in the 1600s and 1700s. The International Skating Union is the authoritative body in skating, which oversees all the international ice skating competitions.
The Beginner’s Guide to Ice Skating
Always get an expert coach to assist you with the basics of ice skating. A good coach helps minimize the risks involved and also ensures you learn the correct way of skating. It is important to understand that ice skating doesn’t come naturally to everyone. A beginner has to learn by getting used to the ice rinks. It is a safe option to rent the ice skates initially, to get acquainted with ice skating. If you remain interested in the sport, it is best to buy your own pair of ice skates with a proper fit. This way the blades will remain sharp, when you actually decide to master the sport.
Ice Skating Tips
Beginners will find that their muscles strain, while skating. However, it is a normal phenomenon and within a few practice sessions, one can get used to the strain. It is also important to relax and avoid locking your knees. They should be bent in the forward direction to avoid falling or tripping backwards. Read the rest of this entry »