Last week some friends and I were trying to figure out what the most useless event in the Winter Olympics is. My initial response was the biathlon. I enjoy cross-country skiing, both to watch and do. And though I’m not a hunter or a target shooter, I see that it takes a great deal of skill to be a marksman. But why did anyone feel the need to combine the two and make an Olympic event out of it?
But that is neither here nor there, because now, after watching a few runs, I have a new contender for most useless event. At the risk of offending any enthusiasts of the sport, all eight of them, I’m going to have to go with the Doubles Luge. The luge itself is somewhat impressive. Racing down ice at speeds up to 150km/hour takes a great deal of strength, co-ordination and nerve. But what of the doubles luge? It is much like the singles luge though with a slightly larger sled and what is in effect a really big cushion. The stronger of the two lies on top and is in charge of controlling the sled, which seems to me then that the other person is just lying there. Sure, they’re going really quickly down the ice, but they’re just lying there. With someone bigger and stronger lying on top of them, steering their sled. Are they actually any more than a part of the sled? What type of athlete aspires to this position? How is an innate ability for this spotted? Someone had a really good nap on the couch?
Anyhow, this could all change. I haven’t watched the 4-Man Bobsleigh or the Individual Gunderson yet.
1 comment:
I was watching the games, thinking about your question when this event came on the highlights. Highlights! I was planning on telling you I had changed my mind and now favoured this event as the most ridiculous, but it seems you agree.
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