Bobsled In Lake Placid

[Ed Cordes]

Last weekend I was at a professional meeting in Lake Placid NY. During a break in the meeting we had a chance to take a bobsled ride down the Olympic bobsled run. we started 1/2 way up and had a "real"" driver and a breakman. Top speed was about 60 MPH and about 2 Gs of force on the turns. What a thrill!!!

I made this image of the sled I was in about 1/2 hour after my own run.

1D MK4 with 17-40 (only lens I had with me). Center point with expansion. Image straightened a bit so a small crop.

Thanks for looking.

[Chris Hansen]

Ed,

That is so cool! What a thrill for you. I have always wanted to try that. An experience of a lifetime.

God bless,

chris

[Harshad Barve]

This is cool machine
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

I know it probably wasnt possible, but would loved to have seen a shot from you whilst in the bobsled. Glad you enjoyed the experience. Sad news about the accident on the opening day of the winter olympics.

[Ed Cordes]

I know it probably wasn't possible, but would loved to have seen a shot from you whilst in the bobsled. Glad you enjoyed the experience. Sad news about the accident on the opening day of the winter olympics.

No, it wasn't possible to make any images from inside. There were 3 of us along with the driver and brakeman. We were going FAST and "rocking" back and forth as we went through the turns - one right after the other - sometimes less than a second apart. 2 Gs is a lot of lateral acceleration! Once we came out of a right hand turn and all I could see in my complete field of vision was a wall of ice about 8 feet in front of me. We then quickly rose up the bank of what really was a sharp left hand turn and zoomed down into some esses!

FWIW, we did about 60 MPH and pulled 2 Gs. The Olympians do about 90 MPH and pull 4 Gs - about what the Space Shuttle astronauts experience! The thing I was really amazed with is that we were just sitting there holding on to straps enjoying the ride. The "real" bobsleders have to make split second decisions and actually steer the sled. Awesome!

Yes, the accident is very tragic. When watching it I always wondered why they didn't have higher walls on that track?

[Alfred Forns]

Must have been a thrill Ed !!!

Just read some blame to the accident was that the pilot could not maneuver due to the high G forces, I like to think it was the wall and no safety for an over run. Just tragic !!