Dutch 4 man bobsled quits Oly's for fear of the track..

[worth]

Now look at these crazy f'ers:



Those are real men.

[Komskies]

Those guys take mustache ride to a whole new level.

[Buzzard]

Couldn't they have maybe said "ok lets save some face here", and go down half ass braking hard in the tricky spots. I mean compete, but barely. They do have brakes right? Bare in mind I obviously know nothing about bobsledding.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If thats not an also-ran what is? Especially in a sport where only the top 3 matter.

I just cant believe the wives would get involved in this at all. You train for 4 years for a chance at one event and you quit because your wife puts doubts into your head. Words wouldnt be able to explain my anger and frustration with that.

there are 30 WC sleds.

[icarus]

Consider also that the Belgian team (forget whether 2- or 4-man) was selected on a reality TV show and they haven't pulled out...

[Regorium]

If you go back to the luger death thread, many people were calling for lugers that were scared of the track to pull out.

Then when someone actually does, you all mock him? You guys are ridiculous.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would blame the BC bud, but you should be able to get that in Amsterdam.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by icarus

Consider also that the Belgian team (forget whether 2- or 4-man) was selected on a reality TV show and they haven't pulled out...

It was the womens 2 person. They finished 14th.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/olympicpu...id=439550.html

[browna]

The other thing is, Chris Lorie, a former bobsledder, talked on CTV last night during the broadcast about some stats from a German track for a World Cup event last year where there were 18 crashes in qualifying (think it was for women).

So, although this is a technical track (it looks like one turn you have to watch...you get caught there and then the next 2 or 3 turns could get you toppled over), its no more "dangerous" for flips then a few of the WC circut tracks in Europe.

So some of this is needless track hype, but yeah, you have to be confident in your abilities or there's really no point in half assing it because then you're likely to crash.

Although, I would just think if you're at this an elite level in your sport, you're able to overcome this, your family would know the risks (not just in the Olympics, but when you do this week in and week out), and you wouldn't wilt.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by transplant99

there are 30 WC sleds.

I guess top 10 with a max finish of 6th means also ran to me, and something more important to others.

Had they won one event on the circuit, then yes they wold have a chance but their highest standing had been 6th. To me anyway this is a non story, except that someones spouse incorrectly decided to intervene where he/she shouldnt have.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Regorium

If you go back to the luger death thread, many people were calling for lugers that were scared of the track to pull out.

Then when someone actually does, you all mock him? You guys are ridiculous.

There's a huge difference between a person quitting in an individual sport and a person quitting in a team sport where him quitting means the entire team is out. Plus I'm faily certain that a lot of the people who were saying lugers should pull out really just wanted that for the shame that it would bring on Vancouver.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by gargamel

There's a huge difference between a person quitting in an individual sport and a person quitting in a team sport where him quitting means the entire team is out. Plus I'm faily certain that a lot of the people who were saying lugers should pull out really just wanted that for the shame that it would bring on Vancouver.

Except this is a team sport where he's basically responsible for the lives of his teammates. If you've got a choice of disappointing your teammates or seriously injuring them, it's an easy choice. If he doesn't think he can get them down the hill safely, he shouldn't be taking their lives in his hands. He crashed last year at Whistler and put two guys in the hospital. He had a bad crash at Altenberg earlier this season (a very technical and difficult course that's often compared to Whistler). Lots of athletes are overmatched here, and he's one of the few who can admit it.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would blame the BC bud, but you should be able to get that in Amsterdam.

And that should make it easier for your coach to talk you in to it, personally I think he was rattled when he realised that we don't put mayo on our fries.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

And that should make it easier for your coach to talk you in to it, personally I think he was rattled when he realised that we don't put mayo on our fries.

Someone should tell him about Belgian Fries on Commercial then...

[Sainters7]

What a p*ssy.

[HOOT]

Pussies!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Couldn't they have maybe said "ok lets save some face here", and go down half ass braking hard in the tricky spots. I mean compete, but barely. They do have brakes right? Bare in mind I obviously know nothing about bobsledding.

According to the little feature they did on bobsled a couple days ago, they aren't allowed to pull the brakes until they are finished. Given the brake is just a steel grate that digs into the track, the entire thing would be wrecked by the third sled if they could.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Someone should tell him about Belgian Fries on Commercial then...

Fries drenched with mayo and peanut butter ,Mmmmmmm. I'm having a homer moment

[mikey_the_redneck]

Yup..............sounds like a vaginal injury to me...

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Couldn't they have maybe said "ok lets save some face here", and go down half ass braking hard in the tricky spots. I mean compete, but barely. They do have brakes right? Bare in mind I obviously know nothing about bobsledding.

Yeah, they have brakes, but they're for stopping at the end, not slowing down while you're running the course.
Aside from tearing up the course, which I'm sure would piss of every team that went after you, you have to bear in mind that the breakman is at the back of the sled, and can't see a thing, so if he were to try to brake half way down the course to slow down, he'd have no way of knowing when the corner was starting, and probably end up being the cause of an accident, instead of preventing one.

So yeah, bobsleds do have brakes, but they don't get used durring the run.

I actually ran as a brakeman for one of my friends while she was learing to drive, so it's not like I'm talking out my ass here either. Even with an inexperienced driver, you don't touch those brakes till you cross the finish line.