Bobsleigh and Luge - Calgary 1988
Posted by: 
wildwoodke
N 51° 04.953 W 114° 13.158
11U E 694758 N 5662683
This waymark is on the bridge near the finish line of the long course bobsleigh track at Calgary.
Waymark Code: WMXDH
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 11/03/2006
Views: 233
This waymark is at Canada Olympic Park on the bridge over the final straight-away into the finish of the bobsleigh course.
The track is 1475 metres in length with a veritcal drop of 118 metres. There are five different start points on the track. Experience riders can pilot there bobsled to speeds approaching 130 km/hr and for luge 120 km/hr. This track is one of the most used in the world with approximately 18,000 descents annually.
The turning point for bobsleigh in Canada came when Calgary won its bid to host the 1988 Winter Olympics. New funding and a state-of-the art, $18.8 million (CDN) dollar bobsleigh track built for the Games breathed new life into the struggling Canadian team.
Now with a home track to train and compete on Canadian bobsledders are gaining recognition in international rankings.
At the Calgary Olympics, Canadian crews placed between 10th and 15th in both the two-man and four-man events. A year later, after recruiting former Swiss world champion Hans Hiltebrand as a coach, Chris Lori led his four-man crew to Canada's first overall World Cup title while teammate Greg Haydenluck was runner-up in the two-man standings.
Also during the Calgary Olympics the first Jamaican Bobsleigh team made history. They warmed the hearts of many worldwide in their first attempt at Olympic glory and was even immortalized in the popular Walt Disney movie "Cool Runnings".
Besides the training and world cup competition that takes place at Canada Olympic Park, you can "Take a ride on the wild side" this winter and experience the "Champagne of Thrills," with a public bobsleigh ride down the Olympic track at Canada Olympic Park. The drivers do all the work. All you have to do is prepare yourself for high-speed banked corners, blinding straight-aways and speeds approaching 120 km/hour on the 1,500-metre ice track. It's sixty seconds of pure adrenaline that you'll never forget!
Olympic Games: Calgary Winter 1988
Sport held at venue: Bobsleigh (Winter)
Additional sport(s) held at venue:
Luge and skeleton are also held on this course. Within Canada Olympic Park ski jumping, nordic combined, freestyle skiing (aerials and ballet) was also held.
Start and/or Finish: Not Aplicable
Web Address with Additional Details: [Web Link]
Reference Supporting Olympic Use: Plaque at Location
Current Use: This site is used a location for world cup events and training year round.
Olympic Games No 2: Not listed
Olympic Games No 3: Not listed
Sport held at venue No 2: Not listed
Details of Reference Supporting Olympic Use: Not listed
Parking Area: Not Listed
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