the sport

What’s a Bobsled?

So what’s a bobsled? A fancy toboggan on runners? More or less, but instead of two runners there’s four; two types of sleds (2-person or 4-person), and two sets of axles. Operated by teams of 2 or 4 racers, bobsleds are steered with D-rings, ropes and bungie cord. The bobsled is made of a fiberglass or a carbon fibre shell, steel frame and brake handles located on either side of the brakeman in the four-person sled or in front of the brakeman in the two-person sled. Bobsleds have a minimum weight that is either 170kg (2-person) or 210 kg (4-person), without crew. There is also a maximum weight that the sleds and the crews combined can be. In women's bobsleigh the max weight is 340kg, while in 2-man bobsleigh the max weight is 390kg. The 4-man bobsleigh team can weigh 630kg. Each team gets weighed at the end of the run and if they are over the maximum weight the team will be disqualified

The Team

A 2 person bobsleigh team consists of a driver and a brakeman while a 4-man team consists of a driver, 2 crewmen, and a brakeman. All athletes push the sled as fast as they can, and jump in at about the same time. The "pilot" drives the sled down the track while the brakeman sits in the back tucked into the sled and holds on. Only at the end of the run does the brakeman sit up and pull the brakes to stop the sled.

The Track

All bobsled courses are different. They all drop a minimum specified vertical distance but each has unique characteristics of: number of turns, length and max speed of the track, and varying degrees of difficulty. Most take place on concrete-based tracks with artificial ice surfaces.The only natural bobsled track that still holds international competitions to this day is located in St.Moritz Switzerland.

The Race

A bobsled races consists of 2 runs down the track. The team that has the lowest combined time after the 2 runs is the winner. In an Olympic or World Championship event the race consists of 4 runs and is held over 2 days. The team with the lowest combined time after the 4 runs is the winner. One bobsled run takes about 1 minute and is measured down to the hundreth of a second. An entire bobsled race can be won or lost by 1 one hundreth of a second!

A Competitive Sport

Although tobogganing used to be one of Canada’s primary winter sports in the 19th century, it became less popular after the 1880s. Canadian competitors were then forced to train either in Europe or at Lake Placid, NY, right up until the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics when a bobsleigh and luge track was built.

The four-man bobsleigh event debuted in 1924, at the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France. Although the first two-man event was held in 1932, women’s pairs did not begin competing on an Olympic stage until 2002, at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, and there are still no four-women Olympic bobsled events.

What kind of Strength is Required?

Pushing the 170 kg or 210 kg sled from a dead start takes a tremendous amount of strength, speed and timing. Before jumping into the bobsleigh for their run, the athletes must first push it for 30 m! This is done in about 5 seconds! With sleds reaching speeds of up to 150 km/hr, racers must maneuver multiple curves and endure up to 5 G’s of gravitational force. Training to be the fastest most powerful bobsled athlete takes mutliple hours a day in the gym. The training regime consists of lots of heavy weight lifting, plyometric exercises, and sprint training. Most bobsledders are recruited from other sports such as Athletics, Football, and Rugby where speed and power is also needed.

What About Other Equipment?

In addition to wearing helmets and skintight racing uniforms made from a stretchy material, racers wear special shoes with small spikes on the soles for traction on the ice. All brakemen wear a Kevlar burn vest in case of a crash to protect their skin from the 3rd degree burns that can occur from the friction of the ice. Bobsleigh pilots either chose between wearing a visor or goggles while they drive the track, but most chose a visor. Gloves are optional for pilots; but most prefer bare hands to feel the steering ropes better.

The Costs

Bobsledding is one of the most expensive amature sports on the planet. The cost of a new 2 man bobsled can range from $45,000-$60,000 and a 4-man can be up to $80,000. The costs don't stop there. A team needs at least 3 sets of runner blades for competition because different blades run faster or better on different tracks and in different weather conditions. One set of bobsled runners can cost from $6,000 -$15,000. The pilot of the team is responsible for acquiring and purchasing all of the bobsled equipment.