When a bobsled crashes, the brakeman sometimes ends up on the ice. Is this by accident or on purpose ?

Question

It's just something I wondered about when I saw Romy Logsch sliding on her back after Cathleen Martini had crashed. It almost looked as if Logsch had deliberately bailed out, to avoid more injury ?

Answer 1

In a bobsled crash, three things can happen:

1. You remain securely in the sled

2. You get out of the sled

3. You remain in the sled but you not secured (bouncing around)



I have listed them in the order of danger to the bobsledder. Their first choice is to stay safely in the sled - you almost never see a serious injury in that case. However, if the sledder loses grip and starts to bounce around they are in big danger - they can be banged around inside the sled, or worse partially bounced out of the sled and having the sled land on them or slide on top of them.



So, if the brakeman loses grip they will eject themselves - it is safer than being lose inside the sled. I think that is what we saw when Logsch ejected herself. And then wisely spread out so the friction on the track is spread out all over her body and avoided any serious injury.

Answer 2

It's called bailing out. Some brakemen (or women) choose to bail, but it risks serious friction burns if they are at high speed. Think of sliding on a rough surface at 140 km/hr. Nevertheless, some feel they have better control of their situation if they abandon the sled.



One of the factors cited by the luge federation as contributing to the death of the Georgian luger was his decision (or lack thereof) to let go of his sled. In luge, the weight of the sled can help to keep the rider under control, as most sliders know. Watch other luge crashes in Vancouver, and you'll see that they all retained contact with their sleds.

Answer 3

I think you have your answer with the two contributors above.

You did pick an unusual case though : Romy Logsch (active since 2006) herself stated that this was her first crash ever, making her at last a real bobber.

Possible scenario : Logsch felt her ankle go (broken ankle) and bailed out to stop worse things happening.

I just read that she looked like a 'drunken eel', but, in fact, her spread-eagled position allowed her to control the slide and avoid friction (burn) injury.

Never expected to see Martini-Logsch crash though, they usually seem to run on automatic pilot ;)

Answer 4

um... no Yes I watch anime, but I find it quite awkward and embarrassing when other people try to dress up and pretend to be anime characters, because let's face it... we won't be. We're real They're not, so they can do whatever they want I believe the definition of being this way is weaboo, and well... it's really not cool

Answer 5

If Logsch had bailed out it might have been out of panic. People do strange things in times of emergency.

Answer 6

it is much safer to remain inside the sled.

If you jump or are ejected you are more likely to be injured.

They do not try to deliberately get out of the sled.

Answer 7

usually they push themselves out, though it is not recommended. its like jumping from a car when its rolling down a hill. by the way she did intentionally did jump from the sled.

Answer 8

yeah