The Fastest Sport on Ice

Like its cousin, bobsled, the sport of luge is known for its breakneck speed, hairpin turns, and the high potential for crashes. This, if you ask me, makes for a pretty great sport.



2006 Winter Olympic Results

Men's Singles
Gold-Armin Zoggeler (Italy)
Silver-Albert Demtschenko (Russia)
Bronze-Mārtiņš Rubenis (Latvia)

Women's Singles
Gold-Sylke Otto (Germany)
Silver-Silke Kraushaar (Germany)
Bronze-Tatjana Hufner (Germany)

Doubles
Gold- Andreas Linger and Wolfgang Linger (Austria)
Silver- André Florschütz and Torsten Wustlich (Germany)
Bronze- Gerhard Plankensteiner and Oswald Haselrieder (Italy)

US Outlook: 2009 has been a great year for US luge so far, with plenty of speed and excitement, and several key wins, which is a good sign going into preparations for Vancouver. Erin Hamlin shocked the world at the World Championships on February 6th in Lake Placid, when she became the first non-German to win a luge World Championship in 16 years. At the same event Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin took the bronze medal in the two-man competition. Then, at the Norton National Championships, Tony Benshoof took the gold medal for men’s singles, alongside Hamlin, Grimmette and Martin. Despite the German dominance on the women's side, Hamlin's shocking victory in Lake Placid may signal a new era for women's luge. On the men's side, although Benshoof, Grimmette and Martin have looked strong this season, it's not likely that they'll be able to break the stronghold that Europe has on the event.

Cool Runnings: Boblsed

Today we take a look at one of my favorite Winter Olympic sports, bobsled (or bobsleigh) and not just because it was the subject of an awesome movie.

2006 Results
2 Man-Gold: Germany-Andre Lange and Kevin Kuske
Silver: Canada-Pierre Lueders and Lascelles Brown
Bronze: Switzerland- Martin Annen and Beat Hefti

4-Man Gold: Germany
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Switzerland

US: The US's highest finish in the two men bobsleigh was 6th place, while two four-man teams placed 6th and 7th respectively.

U.S. Outlook in 2008: Although USA Bobsleigh appears to be going strong, it’s not likely that they’ll overthrow the powerhouses of Germany and Switzerland. Steven Holcomb has been one of the stronger performers for the US, winning the US National Championships and taking bronze in the 2-man bobsleigh at the World Championships. Holcomb has been partnered with Curt Tomaseviz and Justin Olson lately, two younger sledders who could take the team into the future. Another favorite to make the team is Todd Hays, who competed in Salt Lake and Torino, and could lend the US veteran experience.