luger dies of injuries

#juan

Hall of Fame Member
Aug 30, 2005
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I was thinking they could put plexiglass over all the steel columns (like hockey rink). Would be enough to keep the person inside since they would come at an angle.

But ya, what a horrific accident. No doubt he died on impact, moving at that speed.

Exactly. Keeping the athlete inside the track would have saved his life. It might have taken him half a mile to stop but he would survive.

Yeah it was ugly. 80 or 90 miles per hour to zero in part of a second
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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Since the track had been built there were over 5000 luge runs down the track, without incident. Can't blame the track, unfortunately the rider made a mistake.
 

Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
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Apparently the luge events will go on with some changes to the track and then having the athletes start at a lower point on the track. Earnestly hope that these changes will prevent further accidents.
 

RanchHand

Electoral Member
Feb 22, 2009
209
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Since the track had been built there were over 5000 luge runs down the track, without incident. Can't blame the track, unfortunately the rider made a mistake.

You're one of the few people in the world who feel that way. Suggest you take a look at the way the world press is reporting this attrocity.

From the NY Times:

"Before his crash Friday, Kumaritashvili had taken 25 runs here. The Canadian sliders averaged 250. "

"Ron Rossi, the chief executive of USA Luge, said he would propose a rule change that would provide for greater access and would fine track designers for violent crashes.
“I understand that countries want to win, but please justify to me why you wouldn’t let the Georgians train,” Rossi said Saturday. “I’ve been in the sport since 1977, and I have never dealt with anything like this. Lots of drivers make errors, but they don’t come flying out of the track. They need to be asking questions about lack of training time, lack of track designer accountability.”
 

RanchHand

Electoral Member
Feb 22, 2009
209
8
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USA
This is from the Toronto Sun just 5 hours before the poor guy was killed......

"WHISTLER -- When it comes to Olympic Games in our home and native land, no one knows better than Canadians where nice guys usually finish.
So as B.C. readies to welcome the world, perhaps it's time to be less than gracious hosts.
The griping from afar is reaching full volume, framed with surprise that the friendly northern nation could be so cutthroat.
Arguably most vocal has been the U.S. luge team, complaining about restricted access to the tricky track at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
To that, Canadian officials say: Tough sliding. "

We're in it to win it | Rob Longley | Columnists | Sports | Toronto Sun
 

bill barilko

Senate Member
Mar 4, 2009
6,044
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Vancouver-by-the-Sea
People are so quick to blame the deceased, it's the same every time, the Georgian President showed some class but he's pretty much alone in that regard.

And the pathetic ass covering by Olympic authorities is downright nauseating, look @ the pathetic attempts to make the track safer.

 

#juan

Hall of Fame Member
Aug 30, 2005
18,326
119
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You're one of the few people in the world who feel that way. Suggest you take a look at the way the world press is reporting this attrocity.

From the NY Times:

"Before his crash Friday, Kumaritashvili had taken 25 runs here. The Canadian sliders averaged 250. "

"Ron Rossi, the chief executive of USA Luge, said he would propose a rule change that would provide for greater access and would fine track designers for violent crashes.
“I understand that countries want to win, but please justify to me why you wouldn’t let the Georgians train,” Rossi said Saturday. “I’ve been in the sport since 1977, and I have never dealt with anything like this. Lots of drivers make errors, but they don’t come flying out of the track. They need to be asking questions about lack of training time, lack of track designer accountability.”

You would think 25 runs would give a competitor a pretty good feeling for the track but the accident happened while he was doing his practice runs. I don't know how many practice runs he might have had if he hadn't been injured
 

Johnnny

Frontiersman
Jun 8, 2007
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i saw those youtube videos before they all got removed and replaced with the news reports. That was brutal i hate to see that happen to anyone. I hope he RIP and the family im sorry for the tradegy that happened
 

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
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The Canadians made the track too fast and therefore too dangerous. He was travelling at over 90mph and those steel columns seemed to be in a dangerous place.
 

#juan

Hall of Fame Member
Aug 30, 2005
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Since the track had been built there were over 5000 luge runs down the track, without incident. Can't blame the track, unfortunately the rider made a mistake.

Like in most sports, the winners win because they push the envelope. They don't just get on their luge and passively let it take them down the hill. Lugers can control their speed and their line. I agree with the changes they are making but to say the course is entirely at fault is nonsense. Lugers will still be able to take a corner too fast and crash.
 

eh1eh

Blah Blah Blah
Aug 31, 2006
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Under a Lone Palm
You're one of the few people in the world who feel that way. Suggest you take a look at the way the world press is reporting this attrocity.

From the NY Times:

"Before his crash Friday, Kumaritashvili had taken 25 runs here. The Canadian sliders averaged 250. "

"Ron Rossi, the chief executive of USA Luge, said he would propose a rule change that would provide for greater access and would fine track designers for violent crashes.
“I understand that countries want to win, but please justify to me why you wouldn’t let the Georgians train,” Rossi said Saturday. “I’ve been in the sport since 1977, and I have never dealt with anything like this. Lots of drivers make errors, but they don’t come flying out of the track. They need to be asking questions about lack of training time, lack of track designer accountability.”

And if he was given 250 practice runs who is to say this wouldn't have happened on the 25th run?
 

Liberalman

Senate Member
Mar 18, 2007
5,623
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The tragedy here is a person lost his life because he made a mistake on a track that was built for olympic level of compitition
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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The tragedy here is a person lost his life because he made a mistake on a track that was built for olympic level of compitition

Of cource it is a tragedy, you won't get an argument from me. But for you to start yapping about suing the track designers is rediculous.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Of cource it is a tragedy, you won't get an argument from me. But for you to start yapping about suing the track designers is rediculous.

I missed the part about suing the designers. Where was that posted? There is altogether too much suing these days about 90% of it is just pure greed, nothing to do with mitigation.