The Whistler Sliding Centre which got it's official homologation from the International Luge Federation and the International Bobsleigh and Toboggan Federation during the first week of March 2008 has 2217 slides under its' belt.
Canada now has two of the fifteen tracks in the world. The track built of the 88 Olympics in Calgary is known as one of the slower tracks worldwide. The new 1458 metre track in Whistler may be the fastest sliding track in the world.
"By the time [a luge athlete] exits curve one he is going 70 kilometres per hour, when he exits curve two, he is going 90 kilometres an hour, and by the time he crosses the finish line he is going 145 kilometres an hour," said Team Canada luge athlete and 2006 Torino Olympian Jeff Christie.
This second Canadian sliding centre, potentially the fastest in the world, will greatly assist the sliding sport athletes in their drive to Own The Podium in 2010.
The centre will host two world cups and should be fully operational for the 2008-2009 season. During the off-season a few minor details will be completed on the facility.
More info from Vancouver2010.com.
Showing posts with label Own the Podium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Own the Podium. Show all posts
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Freestylers Free of Funds
This last season, Canadian freestyle snowboarders received no direct funding from the Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF). This was in response to their desire to ride where and when they wanted, to take off to shoot a film or product photoshoot, to simply be free.
What they did get was continued indirect support of performance enhancements -- wax technicians, physio, massage therapy, etc. -- at World Cups and team camps.
Despite this limited direct support for the 2007/2008 season Canadian freestyle snowboarders had impressive finishes on the World Cup stage. Lipscomb, 28, ended up winning the final World Cup in Italy and fellow Canadians also had strong showings.
The CSF is hoping that Own the Podium (OTP) will increase 2008/2009 funding from $1.4M to $2M. If OTP increases funding to this level the CSF plans to have an official six-boarder national team.
There's no doubt that owning the podium for freestyle snowboarding will be a challenge. Many European countries have strong riders and the American's could also take the podium.
More on freestyle snowboard sponsorship from the Vancouver Sun.
What they did get was continued indirect support of performance enhancements -- wax technicians, physio, massage therapy, etc. -- at World Cups and team camps.
Despite this limited direct support for the 2007/2008 season Canadian freestyle snowboarders had impressive finishes on the World Cup stage. Lipscomb, 28, ended up winning the final World Cup in Italy and fellow Canadians also had strong showings.
The CSF is hoping that Own the Podium (OTP) will increase 2008/2009 funding from $1.4M to $2M. If OTP increases funding to this level the CSF plans to have an official six-boarder national team.
There's no doubt that owning the podium for freestyle snowboarding will be a challenge. Many European countries have strong riders and the American's could also take the podium.
More on freestyle snowboard sponsorship from the Vancouver Sun.
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