What is Bobsleigh? Put simply, it's two or four members trying to get a bobsleigh down to the bottom of an icey track as quick as possible. It begins by pushing the bob off the start & everyone quickly getting in. This is the most important part of the run as a lot of time can be lost. During an Olympic run the bob can achieve speeds approaching 90mph & the passengers can pull up to 6g in the corners! The same as Formula 1 cars! Once in, the crew keep their heads down, forming a compact surface with minimum drag until they reach the end, when they can finally catch their breath. On the day the high performance coaches will guide you through the all essential start skills & strategies required for the ' Formula One' of ice sports to make your experience exhilarating, fun, & safe. We'll focus on the most crucial aspect of the race, which is pushing the bob off the start & getting in as quickly as possible. The session starts with an introduction to the simulated bob run, then it's a thorough safety briefing. Once you are kitted out with your protective helmet, it's out to the track to learn the sport & techniques used. You will have a trial run on the 'start facility' first built for athletes to train for the Salt Lake City Olympics. & since then has been instrumental in developing the GB World Champion women's bob team & Gold, Silver & Bronze Olympic medals for the GB women bob skeleton athletes. The start facility is a true replica & although it is not on ice, you can achieve speeds of up to 30 mph (total track length is Approx. 60m
- this is not a full length track & there will be up to 3 other participants in the bobsleigh with you). You will have a chance to get plenty of practice on 2 & 4 man, before being put to the test on the timed runs.