People are only just realising how you steer a bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics
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Helped by the popularity of cult film Cool Runnings, the bobsleigh is a fans' favourite when it comes to events at the Winter Olympics.
And even if you aren't familiar with the exploits of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, chances are it's one of the sports you keep an eye out for every four years.
After all, what's not to love about two-four people barrelling down an icy chute at ridiculous speeds in a glorified bathtub on really long skates?
Of course, in reality there's a lot more to it than that.
Those who take part have to be very strong and physically fit, for both the initial push at the top of the course and then to withstand the intense G-force as you hurtle down the track.
Not to mention it's far from just a case of going where the track takes you.
To avoid a potentially nasty crash, each team needs a top notch pilot guiding them down the course – ideally in one piece.
How does a driver steer a bobsleigh?
Despite the high-tech work that goes into making a bobsleigh aerodynamic and durable, the steering system is about as simple as you can get.
Sitting at the front of the sled, the driver has to make sure they time their turns perfectly to make sure they take the best line on each corner.
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That means they have to do their homework – studying each track meticulously and making sure they know exactly when and where they need to turn, and by how much.
All that work prior to an event means that, when it comes to race day, they are able to visualise the course as they go and have the best chance of nailing their runs.
To steer the bobsleigh, the driver operates a pair of ropes which are connected to the steel runners underneath the sled.
That way, they make sure their contraption – which can move at speeds up to 100mph depending on the course – stays on line and doesn't fly off the track.
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It isn't just the ropes that help the sled to steer, though, as the rest of the crew also has an important role to play.
The driver gets help from his team-mates who lean from side to side, shifting their weight with each corner to help the sled negotiate it quickly and safely.
Doing all that while also going through the agony of just withstanding the force of five or six Gs on the harshest corners shows just how strong you need to be to take part in this sport.
- Olympics
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