Bobsledding

The bobsledding was created in Switzerland in the 19th century. How did happen that? The history begins when someone put runners on a toboggan to get greater speed.

The first competition was in Cresta-Run on January 5th, 1898 with five competitors in each sled. 2 of these members should be women.

The first european competition was in St. Moritz where there were more than a hundred bobsled racers in Europe.

Bobsledding in America

The first artificial bobsled circuit in North America was built in Montbello, Quebec in 1911.  The first in EE.UU was built in Mount Van Hoevenberg, near Lake Placid, New York in 1932.

In the Olympic Games the bobsled circuits have around 1500 metres long and between 15-20 turns. The inclination of turns is between 8% and 15%.

There are two kinds of competitions:

Four-man sled (630 kilograms)

Two-man sled (375 kilograms)

The result of races is bassed in cumulative times.

By Jesús Sevilla del Castillo