Luge athlete killed in Whistler during training

[HOOT]

The worst part of the video for me is the 'PING' you hear when his helmet hits the pole because even if you look away you hear it, and if you have watched it once you know exactly what is happening.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

CTV did the EXACT same thing on their opener, showing the entire run including the slo-mo for the crash. i hate it when Canadians try to throw stones at Americans from a glass house

WTF is your problem? Don't make stupid assumptions about my posts. I was watching NBC, they showed the crash and I relayed that info into this thread. Don't make a leap in logic that I must have been taking a shot at americans. Jesus Christ.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by HOOT

The worst part of the video for me is the 'PING' you hear when his helmet hits the pole because even if you look away you hear it, and if you have watched it once you know exactly what is happening.

I'm glad you posted this HOOT - I was kind of worried you'd become the bad guy in this thread and that people had subconsciously thought you as the insensitive one who doesn't give a s**t about the guy who died.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Well I can understand back in the days of gladiators and public executions that people wouldn't have an issue viewing this, but I thought we left all that behind. Are we ok with de-volving back to that because we have cameras everywhere, and the internet? Just because something can be shown doesn't mean it should be. This person had a life, has a family, and should be given some respect. His death should'nt be used to fulfill some type of collective morbid curiosity, or to garner shock attention in an attempt to grab ratings.

Most top movies involve violence and death, so it is hardly surprising that people want to see violence and death in real life too. It really isn't any different than the reasons why people always slow down to admire a big car crash.

Networks show this because people want to see it. There is no de-evolution happening here, simply a few people surprised to find that humanity isn't actually on the lofty pedestal they have placed it.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by flameswin

WTF is your problem? Don't make stupid assumptions about my posts. I was watching NBC, they showed the crash and I relayed that info into this thread. Don't make a leap in logic that I must have been taking a shot at americans. Jesus Christ.

He was referring to my post. And the way I'd written it initially, it was read as a shot as American tv networks, which I cleared up.

[BloodFetish]

If I was the organizers...

I'd have a crew out on the track ASAP to make that wall higher. I'm not going to debate materials (plexi, pyrex, hay bales, etc) but the simple fact is if you keep the athlete in the track you are deflecting the energy at impact and greatly increase survivability. I'd be in full damage-control mode and make damn well sure I'm seen doing something proactive to protect the athletes.

Another option would be to move the start line forward to reduce the speed the athlete gains at the bottom of the track.

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but I think if someone involved in planning asked more "what if" questions this tragedy could have been prevented.

RIP Nodar.

[HOOT]

Apparently with the new tracks they can add frost to them which slows the competitors down.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Icon

He was referring to my post. And the way I'd written it initially, it was read as a shot as American tv networks, which I cleared up.

Oh, he quoted my post too though, so I could only assume that he was reffering to both of us.

[Canuck-Hater]

To be quite honest though, Im sure most of you here were interested in how it happened. I wanted to see how it happened on video, not that I enjoy watching people die. Im just curious like everyone else.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I watched it once when it was first shown and it hadn't been confirmed he had died. It was really hard to see and I can't believe they keep showing it.

Then it came on again when I was having lunch at a restaurant and I made sure to look away. Even with warnings about how disturbing it is, these games are being broadcast everywhere and so many people are going to see it while they're sitting at some restaurant trying to eat and the sound is off. I actually found it difficult to avoid seeing it, even if you don't want to.

[GirlySports]

After hearing about it all day.. it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
The fact that we know he died makes it worse I think.

I'm more grossed out and haunted by things like seeing broken bones for example...

---

Winter Olympics are a speed events and technology. All events, except curling are speed. Unlike the Summer Game where they have more 'human' sports like running.

Perhaps is it time to re-access what is TOO fast.

[rockstar]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I should have something in ~10 min.

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Where can I see this?

That is horrible.

Originally Posted by HOOT

Agreed! Youtube is going to be taking down videos so if anyone wants to download a copy you can from my site.

It should be up in about 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by stang

HOOT should have it up in 5 min...

Better be quick cause they are coming down FAST

Originally Posted by HOOT

I'm just going to host it on my site so youtube can't touch it.

5-6 minutes...

Originally Posted by stang

There is also a video of him if you type his name into youtube...hasnt been taken down yet

Originally Posted by dj_patm

Why has no one showed this clip when I watch?

Originally Posted by pylon

Must be my computer at work. Here is a link, no way the guy survives that. Very brutal.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/no...li-luge-crash/

This is the kind of thing that disturbs me a lot about us.
A guy dies and we're all scrambling to see how it went down.
I don't mean to call any of these posters out specifically; more of a societal observation.

RIP.

[BloodFetish]

Just found this link about record speeds reached on the Whistler track.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2...829/story.html

To sum up, Manuel Pfister from Austria reached 154kmh during a training run on Thursday. The Guiness world record was 139.36kmh by Tony Benshoof in 2001

World records in a sport like luge are often broken in very small increments. Whether the track is deemed "safe" or not, I would expect a lot of lugers simply are not prepared for that HUGE increase in overall speed. Scary.

[BloodFetish]

I hope during the opening ceremonies they call for a full minute of silence.

[metallicat]

Yahoo News/Sports has some pretty graphic images of the rescue attempt on his life.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by rockstar

This is the kind of thing that disturbs me a lot about us.
A guy dies and we're all scrambling to see how it went down.
I don't mean to call any of these posters out specifically; more of a societal observation.

RIP.

Perhaps if you actually read the thread, you'll know those posts were made prior to the confirmation that he passed away.

Go ahead and stay up on that moral soapbox though.

I don't care either way. I thought seeing exactly how it went down, along with the computer simulation of the track was really informative to the engineering side of my mind, and seeing how it went down could lead to a better appreciation and understanding of the sport, as well as future safety devices for it.

*shrug* I do too much material failure analysis in my courses. , this bridge fell down and like 100 people died. Let's analyze this frame by frame to see exactly where the cracks start. I must be soulless.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

I hope during the opening ceremonies they call for a full minute of silence.

I agree. I would be very surprised if they don't work something in.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by rockstar

This is the kind of thing that disturbs me a lot about us.
A guy dies and we're all scrambling to see how it went down.
I don't mean to call any of these posters out specifically; more of a societal observation.

RIP.

Try and read the thread before posting in it. Talk about high horse.

The video was up before it was confirmed he died. I noticed you left out the quote of me saying I took it down when I heard he died.

Pathetic.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by rockstar

This is the kind of thing that disturbs me a lot about us.
A guy dies and we're all scrambling to see how it went down.
I don't mean to call any of these posters out specifically; more of a societal observation.

RIP.

It really depends on your exposure to death, and trauma I guess. I have witnessed 2 motorcycle fatalities in person, held a siblings hand as they were taken off of life support, been the first responder on a car accident involving a decapitation and performed CPR on the passenger which ultimately turned out to be a corpse after everything was said and done. So for myself, it is not as shocking as someone who has not been in a situation involving death. In fact it is pretty mild compared to finding a guys head in the back seat or a car. I suppose you could say I am a bit de-sensitized to it. However, I can undertsand how this could shock someone who has not seen something like this before, hence why I advised against watching it.

[rockstar]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Try and read the thread before posting in it. Talk about high horse.

The video was up before it was confirmed he died. I noticed you left out the quote of me saying I took it down when I heard he died.

Pathetic.

Whoa, whoa. Quick to jump, are we?

Like I said, HOOT. Not singling anyone out; more of a societal observation.
Should I repeat that for you? Or do you have it now?

Perhaps, HOOT, I got home to see this news, and noticed a trend in the first two pages (before you posted that you had taken it down) that I felt a bit disturbed by.

I was just stating that it sickens me sometimes how insensitive WE (I'm not leaving myself out of the "we" so any comments about moral soapboxes or high-horses aren't really applicable) have become due to media, Hollywood, etc.

Again, not singling you out, HOOT. But your comment about the IOC trying to stop you from hosting the video - complete with a - sort of sums up my point about how desensitized we have become.