Thread: R.I.P. Nodor Kumaritashvili

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

http://www.fil-luge.org/Home.307.0.html

Man i've been all over the International Luge Federations web site and just cant find where it says they inspect the track at all. I see plenty of areas where they set the rules for the game but nothing on inspections. I did find

The International Luge Federation (FIL) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the highest authority in all questions which concern the sport of luge.


Still nothing about being the ones that inspect and certify the track. Humm do they have another web site where you get your information?

However, Josef Fendt, the chairman of the federation, known as FIL, said the track had turned out to be far faster than designers ever intended it to be. He insisted it was a safe facility, but he also welcomed the move, which will slow the lugers down by about six miles per hour. Mr. Fendt said when designers drew up plans for the winding icy slope on the side of Blackcomb Mountain, 76 miles north of Vancouver, they anticipated speeds of about 87.5 miles per hour. Yet, during test events at the facility last year and in training runs before these Olympics, the lugers have been traveling at speeds of 96 miles per hour.

"We did not expect these speeds on this track, but after a while we determined that the track was safe," Mr. Fendt, who is German, said through a translator at the news conference.

Mr. Fendt also reiterated his comments from late last year when he suggested that luge organizers need to consider a speed limit in the design of future tracks.

"All tracks set up for 137-140 kilometers per hour (about 87-89 miles per hour) are getting faster," Mr. Fendt said. "In the planning of future tracks we have to make sure we don't go beyond 140 kilometers per hour. I'm not saying this track is unsafe. I'm just saying that in the future we don't want it to go any faster."

In an interview in Germany, Udo Gurgel, the designer of the course, said he designed the course to generate speeds of up to 150 kilometers at the last measurement point before the site of the accident. The safety features were designed to ensure an additional margin of safety, allowing speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour at this point, Mr. Gurgel said.

His design was approved jointly by the two world-wide sport federations and the operator of the site.

"The course was designed to be faster and more technical challenging than previous Olympic courses," Mr. Gurgel said. "The trend is to build ever faster sled runs." Friday's accident could lead event organizers to "steer a different course" in the design of future sled runs, he said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...atestheadlines



More interesting reading,
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic...e_37220eY.html

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

didn't see it mentioned, but they moved the Luge start down to where the lady start was now.

As well as altering the ice profile, and adding another foot or so to the height of the wall on corner 16. They say it's for peace of mind of the competitors.

A luge world cup event was held in Feb '09 on the same track with 135 athletes competing. In the '08/'09 season 15,000 runs were taken. 1,100 or so athletes have now been on the course.

Originally Posted by jabberwock

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

didn't see it mentioned, but they moved the Luge start down to where the lady start was now.

As well as altering the ice profile, and adding another foot or so to the height of the wall on corner 16. They say it's for peace of mind of the competitors.

A luge world cup event was held in Feb '09 on the same track with 135 athletes competing. In the '08/'09 season 15,000 runs were taken. 1,100 or so athletes have now been on the course.

I would say some nets would still be a good idea in those areas that could use them. Peace of mind for the competitors or peace of mind from the lawsuits they'll get sending people down it? You know the whole world is sue crazy now.

Maybe it's just spliting hairs but approving a design is not the same as inspecting the site. The inspection is where this issue should have been picked up. I dont know all the details of the blue print but i do know construction very well. It would have been the detail drawling showing everything as a whole that would show this failicy but ussually the only persons with that set are the designer and the general contractor. Ontop of the fact those drawings become very cluttered with all the keys and points on them. Everyone else just gets a print with there details on it.

I think people are thinking that i am saying someone has to be at fault. That is not the case. Sometimes unexspected shit just happens. I'm simply saying that if inspections would have been allowed to all parties participating that wanted to inspect it maybe it would have been addressed before someone got hurt. Canada was apposed to the idea of allowing that.

The problem is no one involved did a very good inspection to address future or potential issues. They did an inspection to verify that the structure is within spec and code. That is whats required by laws even in canada im sure.

Officials were present at the World cup event Deathgod, so the international luge officials saw the fully completed course, as well as the athletes. In fact, the president of the luge federation stated back in that competition that 'this venue would be ready if the Olympics started tomorrow.' That's in spite of the underestimated track speed.

Most importantly, it seems that corner 16 (site of the fatality) wasn't regarded as a dangerous area by those in the sport, though concerns on the course had been raised.

Canada DID allow inspections. Not as much time as has been given in the past, but everyone was certainly allowed on site. More time would've undoubtedly been better, but rules were followed. If insufficient time on site was the cause, those rules should be changed to reflect that.

Originally Posted by jabberwock

Officials were present at the World cup event Deathgod, so the international luge officials saw the fully completed course, as well as the athletes. In fact, the president of the luge federation stated back in that competition that 'this venue would be ready if the Olympics started tomorrow.' That's in spite of the underestimated track speed.

Most importantly, it seems that corner 16 (site of the fatality) wasn't regarded as a dangerous area by those in the sport, though concerns on the course had been raised.

Canada DID allow inspections. Not as much time as has been given in the past, but everyone was certainly allowed on site. More time would've undoubtedly been better, but rules were followed. If insufficient time on site was the cause, those rules should be changed to reflect that.

Once again my point is over looked. Had they of allowed it to begin with it may not have happened. What is so hard to understand about that? Post after post of the same thing saying the same shit for people to turn around and say

If insufficient time on site was the cause, those rules should be changed to reflect that.

Jesus fucking christ thats what i said 2 pages ago when all this shit started.

BTW watching the luge right now - with a new appreciation of how fast they are going - and they put up a wall over the metal rails after that turn where the crash happened.

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Jesus fucking christ thats what i said 2 pages ago when all this shit started.

Maybe that's what you meant to say, but you can't blame me for reading what you actually WROTE...

First you joked about a man's death, then said it was 'his choice', then 'bad luck', then said Canada didn't allow inspections of the track (which they allowed), then posted an article to oppose Sauso's argument that countries were in fact allowed to inspect the track, then attempted to redact your statement yet insinuated that the track hadn't been inspected, then posted your failed attempts searching one website for information on FIL inspections and your assumption that they didn't happen, then FINALY posted something pertaining to 'your point all along'.


My apologies if I didn't get it after you 'saying the same thing post after post'.


For what it's worth, I'm glad you agree,

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

If insufficient time on site was the cause, those rules should be changed to reflect that.