Some of the fastest winter sports are sledding, skeleton and bobsleigh. Flying across the icy surface on any sports equipment, be it a sled, skeleton or bob, is so fast that it reaches more than 130 km/h. At the same time, the entire control system for such a rapid movement consists of barely noticeable movements of the body on open shells or light tension on the leash attached to the front runners in the bob. You need excellent ice quality, a security system and many other subtleties. Needless to say, the construction of the bobsleigh and luge track is a completely high-tech engineering structure that will pass every test before releasing the first athletes.

The luge and bobsleigh track first hosts luge competitions, as the lightest representatives of ice chute racing, then there are skeletonists on heavy taboggans, and the last to compete are bobsledders on the heaviest equipment - bobs. Therefore, the track must not only withstand the pressure of the weight and high-speed runners of all competitors, but also ensure the safety of the athletes. I can remember more than one accident, including the death of the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili on the pre-Olympic track, just a couple of hours before the opening training in Vancouver, when one small mistake provoked the sled to hit the side at high speed, and the athlete flew off the track, crashing o external structures.

For the Olympic Games in Sochi, a unique track was built, which was named very in Russian - “Sledge”, which is located on the picturesque slope of Mount Aibga in a place called “Rye Glade”. The length of the ice gutter is about two kilometers, or more precisely 1814 meters, while the height difference is 132 meters (from 836 meters to 704 meters above sea level), which means that the descent occurs from a height almost equal to the height of one of Stalin’s skyscrapers, namely Hotel "Leningradskaya", the height of which is 136 meters.

There are no more than 20 luge and bobsleigh tracks of such a high level all over the world, and “Sledge” is the only track that has three counterslopes. Counter slopes are a design solution for the route profile, which gives the effect of slowing down the speed. If this did not happen, then accelerating towards the end of the journey would be akin to accelerating a small plane taking off. Therefore, the Sochi ice channel is a fairly safe structure, although there are seventeen turns from start to finish.

The construction of the Sanki track lasted several years. First, geodetic studies of the area were carried out, then the project was conceived and the proposed profile was conceived, then a model was built and building materials were selected.

The ice chute is a multi-layer structure. The base or lower part of it is a pipeline that passes through an ammonia mixture, which will serve as a refrigerator, maintaining the required temperature of the ice. Stiffening ribs made of steel pipes are laid on it, giving strength and shape to the gutter. At dangerous turns, the sides are raised, and special canopies are installed on top. Strong, cold-resistant concrete is poured onto the gutter in several stages. After this, you can fill. Using a hose, meter by meter along the entire length of the route, water is frozen, which freezes thanks to. The thickness of the ice on the bobsleigh track is about 10 cm. After freezing, the ice is carefully leveled using scrapers, blowers and brooms. The ice surface for competitions must be absolutely smooth, because at enormous speeds without any shock absorbers in the design of a projectile flying on the ice, every unevenness or crack is felt by the athlete as a direct recoil.

The bobsleigh complex in Sochi contains many more important secondary structures. This is an ammonia station, structures at the beginning of the route and at its end. At the start, technical devices are installed from the checkpoint for weighing the sleds and measuring the temperature of the runners. At the finish line there are places for spectators. In addition, powerful power supply and fire safety devices have been installed.

• Address: Gauja National Park, Sigulda, Siguldas pilsēta, LV-2150, Latvia;
• Website: bobtrase.lv;
• Telephone: +371 67 973 813;
• Open: every day from 08:00 to 20:00.

Do you want to add some really cool photos to your travel photo album? Take a break from excursions through picturesque natural parks and medieval palaces. Head to the bobsleigh and luge track in . Here, from the height of the launch complex, you will have a stunning view of the valley. And if you are brave enough, you can get an unforgettable experience by going down one of the tracks on real bobsleigh equipment.

Bobsleigh and luge track in Sigulda – an adrenaline rush

The sports complex is located on the left slope of the Gauja bank, on the top of Mount Pirtnieku. The total length of the route is 1200 meters. At the longest distance you can reach speeds of up to 125 km/h. There are a total of 16 turns on the line. In some areas the effect of weightlessness is achieved. This does not happen on all bobsleigh tracks, which is why extreme sports enthusiasts like to go to Sigulda for thrills.

Until 2014, when the bobsleigh and luge track was opened in Sochi, the Sigulda complex was the only one of its kind in Eastern Europe. Training and competitions in three sports are held here:

• skeleton;
• bobsleigh;
• luge

Sigulda hosts national and international competitions, World Cup stages and various championships.

History of the route's creation

It turns out that luge and bobsleigh originated in Sigulda back in the 19th century. Prince Kropotkin then ordered the construction of a 900-meter sledding track on the hillside near the river.

But the construction of a real professional track with artificial ice surface was first discussed only in the 60s of the last century. The project was created in 1980 at the Latgiproprom Institute. The research center of East German Leipzig also participated in its development and financing. The construction of the route was entrusted to a company from. In 1986, the facility was commissioned.

In 2009, an open starting ramp for luge appeared.

Things to do?

A visit to the bobsleigh and luge track in Sigulda will be interesting for both children and adults. From above you can admire picturesque views. A particularly beautiful picture opens up in the late afternoon, when the sun sets behind the horizon, reflecting in the waters of the Gauja.

A very fascinating tour of the complex. You can view the track from different angles, learn about professional bobsleigh and luge equipment, sit in a real skeleton, “bob” and see rare examples of sleighs preserved from the 19th century.

Quite often, the complex is visited by professional athletes for training. The entrance to the territory is not blocked at this time; access to the slopes along the slopes is simply limited. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to meet and communicate with Latvian sports stars. Well, the bravest ones can even try on their role by driving down the highway on one of the equipment available to tourists:

In the warm season, everyone is invited to descend to summer "bean"- sleigh on wheels. They are designed for 2-3 people and reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.

Tourist information

• It is not recommended to descend the slope using any type of equipment if you have problems with the cardiovascular system, back or neck;
• Children over 6 years old are allowed to ride only when accompanied by their parents;
• An adult entrance ticket to the bobsleigh complex costs €0.60, a student ticket €0.3, and free for children;
• the launch complex is open to visitors daily from 9:00 to 20:00;
• descent on bobs: winter – €50, summer – €10;
• descent to Vuchko: €10 (only on weekends from October to April, from 12:00 to 17:00);
• descent on the "frog": €20;
• You can ride summer bobs from May to September (from 12:00 to 17:00).

How to get there?

The bobsleigh track is located 600 m from the railway station in a south-west direction.

From there you can get to Sigulda by bus or train. They go almost every hour.

If you are traveling by car, follow the Pskov highway A2 from Riga.

Luge- a winter Olympic sport, the essence of which is to ride a single or double sleigh down special tracks (an ice chute on a reinforced concrete base) in a minimum amount of time.

The history of luge

Luge sport originated in Switzerland in the mid-19th century. The prerequisite for the emergence of this sport was the descent of tourists on sleighs down snow-covered slopes. In 1879, the first luge track was built in Davos; its length was 4 kilometers.

In 1883, the first official international luge competitions took place in Davos.

In 1913, the International Luge Federation was founded in Dresden (Germany). In 1935 it became part of the International Bobsleigh and Toboggan Federation (FIBT). It was not until 1957 that the International Luge Federation was founded.

In 1955, the first world championship in the history of luge was held in Oslo (Norway).

In 1964, luge debuted at the Olympic Games in Innsbruck.

Luge Rules

As you have already said, the winner of the luge competition is the athlete who completes the course in less time.

The rules of luge govern the weight and structure of the sled, as well as the temperature of the runners. In addition, the rules limit the weight of athletes and their equipment.

Competitors must start within a certain time after the track is cleared. In this case, the starting order of the athletes is determined by the results of the preliminary competitions.

Luge competitions are held among singles or pairs.

Athletes must finish with their sleds, otherwise the athletes will be disqualified.

Luge track

The luge track consists of a chute and bends, has an ice surface and is built according to a special design. Toboggan runs are divided into those with or without refrigeration units.

The minimum length of the track for men on a single-seat sled is 1000 m, and for women - 750 m. The maximum length of the track for men on a single-seat sled should be no more than 1300 m, and for women - 1050 m. During international competitions and by decision of the chief judge the route can be shortened to 400 meters.

The average slope is between 8% and 11%. The turns on the track are designed in such a way that the overload of athletes during passing does not exceed 4.5 g.

Equipment and equipment

Competition sleds (design features, weight, runner temperature) must be FIL approved. Modern sleds consist of 800 components and parts that are aimed at improving aerodynamic properties. The sled for single races should not be heavier than 23 kg, and for doubles - 27 kg.

All items of equipment must correspond to the athlete’s size and body shape. During luge competitions, it is allowed to wear additional protective equipment (elbow pads, knee pads, kidney protection belts). Athlete's equipment:

• protective helmet;
• sports overalls;
• gloves;
• sport shoes.

Athletes' starting numbers are issued in the form of bib jerseys (breast number) with a number on the chest and back.

Judging

The main panel of judges at luge competitions includes:

• main judge;
• Deputy Chief Start Judge;
• Deputy Chief Finish Judge;
• deputy chief judge for the course;
• chief secretary;
• technical delegate.

Competitions

The Olympic Games are the most prestigious luge competitions, held once every four years.

The World Luge Championship is an international competition between the strongest national luge teams, held by the International Luge Federation.

There are different winter sports, which are individual and team. Luge deserves attention; it is included in the program of many competitions, including the Olympic Games. There is a certain list of strict rules that are needed to determine the best.

Luge - history of origin and development

A winter sport that is based on sledding down a mountain or from a special track is luge. The track is made artificially and is an ice trough on a reinforced concrete base. It will be interesting to know when luge appeared, so it happened in the middle of the 19th century. The first track was built in 1879 in Davos and its length was 4 km. After 4 years, the first official international competitions were held.

Types of luge

This sports direction has four subtypes:

This sport is included in the list of many competitions, including the Olympic Games, and they are held every four years. There are other types of competitions where luge is represented:

1. The World Championship is an international competition in which the strongest national teams participate. It is held by the International Luge Federation.
2. The European Championship is held between the strongest European teams.
3. Includes luge and the World Cup, which is an international tournament, and consists of several separate stages. For each of them, points are calculated that form the overall standings.

Luge Rules

Unlike many areas, luge has very simple rules - the athlete who completes the course in the minimum amount of time wins the championship.

1. Participants start, one after another after a certain period of time, so that a collision does not occur.
2. Luge champions must finish with their sled or they will be disqualified, but it is worth noting that it is acceptable to stop and then resume moving again.
3. The weight and design of the sleds are strictly regulated. The rules concern restrictions on the weight of participants and equipment.
4. Two or more races are conducted and the result includes the total time.
5. Luge allows both singles and pairs. In most cases, men participate in doubles competitions. At major competitions, relay races are held, and the team consists of a single man and a woman, and another couple.
6. In 2016, at the World Championships, luge sprint was included in the program for the first time. For this direction, a shortened route is used, and the time begins to count not from the start, but after the athlete overcomes the initial section of 100-150 m. The winner is determined after a single attempt.

Luge sport

With the exception of beans, sleds have no steering wheel or brakes to turn or brake. Since enormous speed develops during the descent, it is important to know how to control a sled in luge, so the start takes place in a sitting position, and then, after the push, the athlete lies down. Control is carried out by shifting the center of gravity of the human body. Skeleton competitors wear special shoes with spikes that they use to make turns.

Sleigh for luge

Since there are different types of this sport, each option has its own type of sled.

1. Toboggan- An ancient sled that was used by the North American Indians. Their length is approximately 3-4 m, and their width is 30-40 cm. In ancient times, people used toboggans to transport goods, and only over time they became part of entertainment, and then competitions.
2. Bean– a cigar-shaped body for the crew, mounted on a steel chassis. Inside there are seating areas, a steering wheel and a brake lever.
3. Skeleton. The design of the skeleton sled includes weighted frames that have bumpers at the front and rear to absorb impacts from the track's gutters. They have two skates on the bottom and handles on top to hold on to while descending. There are regulations regarding the size and weight of the sleds.
4. Naturban. Naturban sleds are similar to regular children's sleds, but they are lighter and lower. There are bump stops on the sides of the structure, and the runners have slats to protect against impacts when turning. The main feature of the sled is the bridle, which is attached to the front of the runners, and it is needed for steering.

Luge track

To make a luge track, they first make a design with all the calculations. It consists of a chute and bends, and also has an ice covering.

1. The route may or may not have refrigeration units.
2. For riding a single-seat sled, the minimum length of the track for men is 1000 m, and the maximum is 1300 m. For women, the values ​​are smaller - 750 and 1050 m.
3. The average slope is in the range of 8-11%.
4. When designing turns, it is taken into account that athletes’ overloads should not exceed 4.5 g.
5. There is one type of luge that does not require structures, since the descent takes place on a natural route - naturban.

Luge - equipment

In addition to the sled, much attention is paid to the athlete’s equipment, which must be suitable for the size and shape of the body. Equipment includes overalls, protective helmet, special shoes and gloves. A luge suit shouldn’t be bulky, but its job is to keep you warm. During competitions, it is allowed to use additional protective equipment: elbow pads, knee pads and a belt to protect the kidneys.

Speed ​​in luge

This sport is considered extreme due to the development of enormous speeds. Experts are constantly working to find a balance between them and safety. On average, while passing the route, an athlete reaches a speed of up to 110 km/h. As for the maximum speed of luge, the record in skeleton was set by Alexander Tretyakov, and it is 146.4 km/h.

In 1974, a luge department was opened at the comprehensive youth sports school of the regional council of the Burevestnik children's and sports school.

In 1980, in the village of Tebenki, Elykaevsky district, a 1000 m long toboggan run was built, which is still in operation and is one of five in Russia.

On May 15, 1985, by a resolution of the Supreme Council of the DSO trade unions, thanks to the high sports results of the students, a specialized children's and youth school of the Olympic reserve in luge was opened at the expense of the staff of the comprehensive youth sports school.

In 1993, SDUSHOR was transferred to the Committee on Physical Culture and Sports of the Administration of the Kemerovo Region and received the status of a regional sports school.

Athletes of the Sports and Youth Sports School took part in the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, the championships of the USSR, the RSFSR, Russia, the Spartakiad of schoolchildren, the Olympic hopes of Russia, Russian Cups, and zonal competitions.

In 1988, the Luge Sports School for Youth and Youth Sports School was transferred to the Kemerovo region.

Antonova Anastasia participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (USA). Took 12th place. Based on the results of her performances at the Russian championships and World Cup stages, A. Antonova became ninth in the international FIL ranking and was determined as the No. 1 luger in Russia.

In January 2004, luge student Pavel Babaev took part in the IV and V stages of the Junior World Cup (Germany) and the World Youth Championship (Canada).

Our lugers took part in the Russian Luge Championship among boys and girls of the senior age group in Krasnoyarsk, where Stepan Fedorov became the winner in the single-seat sleigh, the crew of Stepan Fedorov, Matiyash Alexander won bronze, and the crew of Sergey Shkamard and Ivan Vakhtel took 4th place .

At the open championship of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, our crew Dmitriev Dmitry, Zapolnov Alexey became second.

The Kemerovo district team took part in the 1st Winter Spartakiad of Russian students, where it took 2nd overall team place, thanks to which the Siberian district became the winner of the Spartakiad. Fedorov Stepan, Dmitriev Dmitry, Zapolnov Alexey performed as part of the national team of the Siberian Federal District.
At the Russian Luge Championship, which took place in Bratsk, our athletes entered the top ten in single-seat sleighs, and Dmitriy Dmitriev and Alexey Zapolnov became silver medalists in the team race.

Stepan Fedorov won silver at the Russian summer luge championship, and in the 2004/2005 winter season he successfully performed at the Youth World Cup stages, fulfilling the “Master of Sports of Russia” standard.
Yulia Artemyeva became the silver medalist of the Russian Federation Cup, as well as the II stage of the Youth World Cup.

Lugers: S. Fedorov, A. Matiyash, Y. Artemyeva regularly competed at the Junior World Cup stages.

Currently, the Sports School for Luge of the Kemerovo Municipal District is one of six sports schools in Russia, which has a team of promising athletes:
Stepan Fedorov, born in 1987, “Master of Sports of Russia”, is a member of the Russian national team, a participant in the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver (Canada) in 2010, a participant in the World Championships, World Cups, Russian Championships, three-time winner of the Russian Cup.
Alexander Kazantsev, born in 1992, candidate master of sports - member of the Russian youth luge team, multiple winner and prize-winner of All-Russian competitions, winner of the Russian Cup stage, participant of the 1st and 2nd stages of the 2010 Junior World Cup.
Podprugin Vyacheslav born in 1995, “Candidate Master of Sports” - member of the Russian youth luge team, multiple winner and prize-winner of the All-Russian youth competitions, winner of the 1st and 2nd Stage of the Junior World Cup of the 2010/2011 season.
Danila Savelyev, born in 1995, first sports category - member of the Russian youth luge team, multiple winner and prize-winner of the All-Russian youth competitions, winner of the 1st and 2nd Stage of the Junior World Cup of the 2010/2011 season.
Aleksandrova Daria, “Candidate Master of Sports”, member of the Russian youth luge team, participant and prize-winner of the Junior World Cup, prize-winner of the Russian Youth Cup, Fourth Winter Spartakiad of Russian Students, Russian Junior Championship.
Dmitry Nikonorov, born in 1991, “Candidate Master of Sports”, winner of All-Russian competitions.
MGA Nikolay born 1992, “Candidate Master of Sports”, winner of the All-Russian competitions (Kemerovo)
Alexandrov Konstantin born 1991, “Candidate Master of Sports”, winner of All-Russian competitions
In addition to the above-mentioned athletes, SDUSSHOR has a worthy succession of young lugers growing up, who have already won prizes at All-Russian competitions this season.

For 10 years, the Administration of the Kemerovo District, the Department of Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kemerovo Municipal District, the Municipal Educational Establishment of Children's Education and Institution "SDUSSHOR for Luge of the Kemerovo Municipal District", together with the Russian Luge Federation, has been the hosting organization of the All-Russian luge competition Youth Games of the Luge Federation sports in Russia, which are a showcase for promising Russian youth.

In 2011, the All-Russian competition was held for the 11th time on the bobsleigh track. Teams from all regions where luge is developing took part in the competition: Moscow, Perm region, Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk region, Kemerovo region. More than a hundred people took part in the Youth Games: athletes, representatives, coaches, judges. A large number of spectators and guests.