3 Canadian Bobsledders in Hospital in Germany Following Crash

[Nehkara]

3 Canadian bobsledders in hospital after training crash

Three members of the Canadian bobsleigh team were hospitalized Thursday after their sled slammed into the roof of the track during a training run.

The crash took place as the Canadian team was practicing for a World Cup event in Altenberg.

"I've never seen a sled so destroyed in one go in my 32 years in the sport," coach Tom de la Hunty told The Associated Press by telephone from the team's hotel.

He said pilot Chris Spring was taken to the University Clinic in Dresden to have a piece of wood removed from his lower back. Pushman Bill Thomas was in another hospital in Dresden, and Graeme Rinholm was in a hospital in Pirna, closer to the track. A fourth member of the crew, Tim Randall, was not injured.

Thomas was under sedation and expected to "make a full recovery," said de la Hunty, who did not have details on Rinholm's injuries.

Although Randall was not injured, de la Hunty said he was in a "state of shock, really like all of us."

De la Hunty said the "disastrous" crash took place in turn 16 of the track, often described as one of the most difficult in the world.

The sled, travelling at about 130 kph, hit the wooden roof over the course and came crashing back down, but never left the track.

"The entire front part of the sled came off and dragged through the sled with the athletes inside," de la Hunty said.

This sounds like a horrific accident. I hope the athletes can recover quickly and fully.

[Puppet Guy]

Speedy recovery, boys. Luckily this wasn't another Nodar Kumaritashvili incident. From the article it sounds like they'd be relatively safe inside the sled.

[drewboy12]

From the article it sounds like they'd be relatively safe inside the sled.

"The entire front part of the sled came off and dragged through the sled with the athletes inside," de la Hunty said.

"I've never seen a sled so destroyed in one go in my 32 years in the sport," coach Tom de la Hunty told The Associated Press

[iggyformayor]

Wow. A friend of mine is over there practicing with them. Thankfully he's not one of the injured.

[HOZ]

This sport is called the Formula I of the Olympics due to the speed they go at.

These things fly down the track at race car speeds with virtually no protection. No roll bar or crash cage like a race car would have. Damn crazy.

[iggyformayor]

A few years ago I worked with a guy that's on the Canadian national bobsled team. One night he was going to do some practice runs and needed a brake man. He asked if i'd like to give it a shot and me being the idiot that I am figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot, I mean, how many people actually get the opportunity to ride in a real bobsled? It was the scariest and most exhilerating experience of my life!! Riding down a chute of ice at 120+ km/h? Insane. But I paid the price. I have never been in so much pain in my life. The stress that your body is put under by the g-force of going around those corners is insane. We did 3 runs and I could barely move for more than a week after because my entire body was so sore. And I mean EVERY DAMN MUSCLE. Wouldn't trade it for the world though.

[kirant]

Not sure it's worth it's own topic, so I'll stick it with the other Olympic athlete topic...:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Whi...391/story.html

Whistler freestyle skiing pioneer Sarah Burke remains in critical condition in a coma after suffering an injury during a training run on the superpipe at a personal sponsor event Tuesday.

Burke, 29, sustained the injury during a training run at the Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, and was immediately airlifted to a Salt Lake City hospital.

The exact nature of her injury has not been disclosed.

[theiceman]

Used to work at the Calgary track. Driving sleds is an intense sport. Hope those boys have a speedy recovery. Best wishes to them and theirs.