Paramonovo bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track

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The Paramonovo bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton located in Paramonovo, Russia, 80 kilometers (50 mi) outside of Moscow.

Contents

[edit] History

During the 1970s, the Soviet Union found success in luge with Vera Zozula, Dainis Bremse, Algars Kirkis, and Sergey Danilin at the Winter Olympics, FIL World Luge Championships, and FIL European Luge Championships.[1][2][3] By 1986, a track at Sigulda in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Latvia) was completed which allowed bobsledders and lugers to compete.[4] Following the breakup of the Soviet Union in late 1991, which included Latvia's independence a year earlier, the Sigulda track became part of Latvia as a result. This caused Russia's bobsleigh and luge program to suffer throughout most of that decade. In the late 1990's, Russia began to gather success again in bobsleigh, luge, specifically with Alexandre Zoubkov and Albert Demtschenko who won a total of two Winter Olympic medals (both at the 2006 games)[5][6], four world championship medals (all by Zoubkov)[7][8], and three European luge championships medals (all by Demtschenko)[9][10]. Russia also won a world championship medal in skeleton in 2003.[11] Because of the success of the Russian sliding teams, it was decided to construct not one, but two new tracks. The first would be near Moscow while the second one would be in Krasnaya Polyana with the latter part of Sochi's bid to earn the 2014 Winter Olympics.[12] The foundation stone was laid down in February 2007.[13] By July 2007, 400 meters of the track had been completed.[14] Track construction was completed in December 2007.[15] Official opening of the track occurred on March 10, 2008.[16] The first World Cup competitions will take place during the 2008-09 luge season.[13] Construction cost for the track was USD45 million.[17] The Russian national championships also took place during that time.[17]

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Physcial characteristics

The track has 19 curves with an elevation difference of 105 meters.[16] Because of the natural elevation difference of only 78 meters, the first 300 meters of the track are mounted on steel pillars up to 27 meters high.[16] Starting from a tower like that of Sigulda, Latvia, the track has a maximum grade of 15%.[16]

[edit] Track technical details

Because of Russian environmental regulations prohibiting the outdoor usage of ammonia refrigeration systems, two cooling systems consisting of an ammonia-carbon dioxide cascade system was used.[16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Men's singles luge world champions since 1955
  2. ^ Women's singles luge world champions since 1955
  3. ^ Men's doubles world luge champions since 1955
  4. ^ History of sport in Sigulda in English
  5. ^ Bobsleigh four-man Olympic medalists: 1924, 1932-56, and since 1964
  6. ^ Luge men's singles Olympic medalists since 1964 - accessed February 24, 2008
  7. ^ List of Bobsleigh two-man world championship medalists since 1931
  8. ^ Bobsleigh four-man world championships medalists since 1930
  9. ^ List of European championship medalists in men's singles luge since 1914. - accessed February 24, 2008.
  10. ^ List of European championship medalists in men's doubles luge since 1914. - accessed February 24, 2008.
  11. ^ List of world championship medalists in women's skeleton since 2000. - accessed February 24, 2008.
  12. ^ FIL-Luge.org November 23, 2006 article on several track modifications, construction, and future plans, including Moscow. - accessed February 20, 2008
  13. ^ a b FIL-Luge.org February 15, 2007 on the foundation being laid for the Moscow track. - accessed February 21, 2008.
  14. ^ FIL-Luge.org July 20, 2007 article on Moscow's track construction progress. - accessed July 21, 2007.
  15. ^ Skeletonsport.com December 28, 2007 story on the Moscow track opening up. - accessed February 23, 2008.
  16. ^ a b c d e Track officially opened on March 10, 2008. - accessed March 13, 2008.
  17. ^ a b FIL-Luge.org April 30, 2008 article on track cost and on Russian luge championship test. - accessed May 1, 2008.

[edit] External links

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List of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks
Current artificial tracks
Former artificial tracks
Natural luge tracks