Showing posts with label Luge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luge. Show all posts

Monday, February 15, 2010

Memorial for a 20-10 Olympic Fatal Luge Accident Victim... Nodar Kumaritashvili



The memorial at the luge track for luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was a very emotional experience for me...

The luger lost control of his sled Friday

Went over a track wall and struck a steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Centre…

Sadly … the luge track at Whistler … the fastest in the world … is now being described as deadly …

Some Olympic spectators I’ve talked to say they’re heartbroken that the games had to start this way…

there’s lots of mixed emotions … the tragedy of the death of this athlete… on the day of the opening ceremonies no less… its a stark contrast to the excitement this night normally holds.

Officials say Athletes are coming to terms with the loss of a fellow competitor and *friend* …

Training on the track was postponed today and an Investigation is currently underway …

Some are saying the 21 year old was inexperienced … on the curve interestingly enough termed “Thunderbird” …

But the luger is not the only one who’s crashed on this track in the last several days

Many athletes are struggling on the course.

As whistler reels tonight … the show still must go on …

Reporting in Whistler, Canada I’m Morgan Schutters WYMT Mountain News.

Notes: not the first time Olympic games have started off with luge crashes …. Apparently one in 1964 ... I have not had time to research.
over 150km/hr
3% of luge runs on this track result in crashes
… Some favorites … like the germans and italians are even having trouble…

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Five Days in Whistler... Incredible Excitement on the First Day of Olympic Luge Competitions!


Whistler Day Five: First Day of the Men's Luge Competitions...

Photo Description: Audio Crew co-workers as we set up a ladder. They call us "Smurfs" because of our Blue clothing... lol.

The men's start was moved down to women's start because of the fatal accident yesterday... women's moved down to Junior start ... that is sad for the athletes...

Today we worked from 6am until 10pm.

Exhausted!

Was live next to the finish for both rounds of men's luge runs tonight. Got colder and rained, snowed and slushed all day. Sort of miserable... but hey, I'm at the Olympics! Love this place! Love these people!

Made friends with the Surgeons, doctors and other medical personnel at the last curve 16 who worked the fatal luge crash yesterday -- there is a memorial down there and the entire barricade has been rebuilt and padded so that hopefully no future incidents will happen...

Goodnight.