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Georgian luger dies in crash at Whistler

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noparking
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 50
http://http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2010wintergames/Georgian+luger+dies+after+horrifying+crash+Whistler+track/2556532/story.html
Feb 12 2010 3:16PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
that was fucked up...
Feb 12 2010 7:40PM
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J-Evs
Posts: 6387 - Karma: 1,615
wow
i cant beleive they just showed it for the whole country to see
Feb 12 2010 7:43PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
well different countries have different views on death. im not surprised they showed it.
Feb 12 2010 7:45PM
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Crack.
Posts: 6020 - Karma: 84
can't believe this is on the olympic site.
Feb 12 2010 7:46PM
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skiskate
Posts: 787 - Karma: 823
The video is pretty harsh...

RIP

However the poles werent padded because this isnt a normal occurence in luge, the person never comes out like that. However im sure that this incident will bring out a net or something at the bottom.
Feb 12 2010 7:53PM
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kenevil
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 31
padding wouldn't have helped much, he hit the pole at almost 150km/h
Feb 12 2010 7:57PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
From the vancouver 2010 site, "Kumaritashvili on Friday flew off the track and smashed into a metal column, leaving him unconscious, bleeding from the face and needing on-site resuscitation that ultimately failed.

There have been several other casualties on the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre widely regarded as being one of the most difficult on the circuit."


That's all he gets. 1 completely emotionless sentence about him in a single article about luge that isn't even about him. His death is simply brushed off. Or hopefully they're just taking the time to write a proper dedication for him and haven't posted it yet. On second thought I'm sure this is what they're doing.


Feb 12 2010 7:57PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Never mind my last comment. There's another article dedicated to him that I missed.
Feb 12 2010 7:58PM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
really wish i didnt watch that video. vibes to his team and family. that was crazy. they should figure something out safety wise. seems like they would have taken something like that into account
Feb 12 2010 8:05PM
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J-Evs
Posts: 6387 - Karma: 1,615
i cant imagine being the next person to run that course
Feb 12 2010 8:25PM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
apparently this is the fastest track ever. some guy went 154 and they are expected to go 157
Feb 12 2010 8:53PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
This is very very sad news. For these athletes, the olympics are probably the most important and happy times of their lives and news like this is the last thing you want to hear. I can only hope he died doing what he loved most. Prayers going out to Nodar, his family and team mates.
Feb 12 2010 9:21PM
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VasilevSKI
Posts: 195 - Karma: 18
wow can't believe they showed that on tv, so disrespectful. terrible that he made it to the games and didn't get to compete. RIP
Feb 12 2010 10:02PM
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conman2800
Posts: 609 - Karma: -2

They couldnt not show it! it was live and they didnt know he passed away after they showed so its not really disrespectful

but DAM i would hate to be a competitor on that course! that would be so scary!

Feb 12 2010 10:07PM
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
.

I'm still thinking about the video. They showed it at the beginning of the opening ceremony special on NBC. It was so shocking.. I don't really have any words to describe how I feel.
Feb 12 2010 10:16PM
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conman2800
Posts: 609 - Karma: -2
well thats messed up......poor family!!! geeze!!!!!!
Feb 12 2010 10:18PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
i haven't seen it and i want to
(not to be sick or anything)
Feb 12 2010 10:18PM
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TPatel
Posts: 207 - Karma: 10
practice was canceled after the crash.

They have to do something before the actually event now. Yesterday an athlete said she felt more like a crash-test dummy then a person going down that course due to it's speed and then the accident occurred....the course should at least be slowed down some, is that possible? RIP.
Feb 12 2010 10:20PM
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VasilevSKI
Posts: 195 - Karma: 18
This is what I was talking about, I dont think it should have been shown before the ceremony, even though they are dedicating it to him.
Feb 12 2010 10:20PM
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Gameboy
Posts: 2657 - Karma: 127

yeah just saw that on leigh powis' blog. It sucks so bad!!

 he must have trained so hard to get to the olympics, i'm pretty sure he was living his dream and he dies right before he could even compete. RIP

Feb 12 2010 10:23PM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
that is extemely unfortunate. RIP
Feb 12 2010 10:29PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
dude... the video is on NBColympics.com - thats fucked up...

i almost threw up watching it. he's going 90mph, bounces up, spins around, and just hits back to the wall and stops on the spot. body took so much force it is incredible.
Feb 13 2010 12:06AM
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WikiWiki
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 426
he was dead on impact with a hit like that- that fucking blows soo bad
Feb 13 2010 1:10AM
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nipples-the-cat
Posts: 643 - Karma: 28
that sucks, i cant see the vid, but from what i hear it is bad..
Feb 13 2010 1:19AM
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Fucktown
Posts: 474 - Karma: 22

Afterbanged so hard his head fell off.

Just a few days ago did not 80% of the posters say that they if they had to die young, it would be doing something they love like skiing... this guy died doing what he loved, going faster than shit on a tiny ass plank down a course of ice.

People say this is a gruesome death, when we're fighting a war which probably causes more gruesome civilian deaths every single day. This guy put himself at risk, he saw the track beforehand, it's not like he was forced to compete...he did it because for him, the rewards well outweighed the risk, and given the nature of the sport, I don't think he would have/has regret.

If you get butthurt from my first statement... come back in a year when one single death out of 6 billion people gets put into perspective for you.

Feb 13 2010 1:26AM
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thisandthatfilms
Posts: 7714 - Karma: 526
RIP DUDE
Feb 13 2010 1:41AM
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Been.stick
Posts: 436 - Karma: 491
i just watched the news on that shit
that was so fucked up
rest in peace buddy...at least he died doing what he loved
Feb 13 2010 1:49AM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
RIP.  So sad, especially when everyone is nothing but stoked for the whole event.  Family, his entire country. 

It's going to be so emotional and scary to run this course even after they make changes.  Just knowing that someone they competed with passed away right there, on that turn as they zip past it.

Not sure how they would go about changing the course.. if you can mellow or take turns out, or just make the slope a little less steep or what... i'm interested. 
Feb 13 2010 1:59AM
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lahnabonny
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 35
shut up asshole
Feb 13 2010 2:00AM
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liukangkid
Posts: 3323 - Karma: 82
I just saw the video on tv, its really sad. The track is closed though and it looks like luge and other events are on hold until officials deem it safe.



Feb 13 2010 2:56AM
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switchskier206604
Posts: 497 - Karma: 36
FUCK THAT VIDEO WAS REAL.......I walked the course in may for fun when the weather was nice, and when i saw the bottom, i though tto myself, what the fuck are they thinking. they thought a huge bottom turn would dissipate  speed, it only slingshots them harder.... before letting it dissipate... its just nuts looking at it in person, absolutely insaaaane for pros!!! PROs!!!!!! PROS!!!!

we've got all of the Olympians and industry experts sitting by watching and participating, biting their lips... saying its a bit fast, and that people need to be on their game...

but  just as in skiing, we want to see the riders go bigger, post higher scores, hit bigger jumps... etc, but what took place is the equivalent of someone hosting the xgames and iinviting me, and not letting me practice more than 5 times before telling me to go lay down a record setting run (because it would have been for nodar anyways due to the conditions) on the industries most packed in, tight, and challenging course to date.

the IOC needs to be fully accountable here and not let off like other giants of industry. not just people, but PROS have been falling and injuring themselves all week long in practice, concussions needless to say, blaming the shear speed of the track.the  course has been scrutinized plenty enough, and the worst part?

the greed of the canadian sliding federation has claimed the life of a relatively inexperienced competitor no older than I (22) am that was stoked to be participating in the games just so perhaps canadia could have the edge in the event. canada's sliding federation has left the course unavailable to competitors from all countries  including the USA except for a mere 40 runs says the USA team which they got last week only, whereas the canadians have had several HUNDRED. this isn't a problem for a team like the USA, Germany, Switz, but for a team inexperienced and progressing their skills constantly like georgia, russia, lithoania, little to no practice on a course that demands the highest levels of edge and focus  in the sport is negligent at best.

The best luger in the world and consultant for expert 7 time track builder  was clocked last winter on the course prior to any training taking place and he was @ 95.17MPH, whereas the sport usually operates between 80-85 at best to the full satisfaction of the federations and competitiveness of the sport.

The canadian Sliding Federation owes us
Feb 13 2010 3:02AM
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switchskier206604
Posts: 497 - Karma: 36
nvm Russia is pro at sliding sports. RIP to the kid though, so so so sad.
Feb 13 2010 3:16AM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Of course there is risk in the sport. But it's like the Steven's Pass booter that Tanner was injured on, if the course/feature is not built properly, then the risk is going to increae massively. There will always be risk, but it can be minimised if the equipment and course are properly maintained.
Feb 13 2010 6:04AM
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partyalex
Posts: 131 - Karma: 11
Heads are gonna roll for this shit, there had been several complaints from coaches/athletes from competing nations and testers who all had concerns about how dangerous the track was, they don't think enough test runs were carried out before practice started. They've had a ton of other injuries on the course already. Padding wouldn't have made a difference in a crash like this but after seeing the vid and pics it's so obvious that some sort of perspex barrier covering the steel supports would have been a no brainer. No matter how unlikely a crash of this kind is they surely can't risk someone flying into a row of steel columns at 90mph?! Really interested to see what happens once this crash is investigated.
Feb 13 2010 10:12AM
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lorida
Posts: 2833 - Karma: 46
Obviously it wasnt a fucking "no brainer" if they didn't do it.

You think people looked at the steel poles and thought "there's an inherent risk someone will fly out of the track and die on those beams, but putting $5000 of plexi glass isn't worthwhile "....

Bullshit, they never thought this would happen. People falling? Yes. Lugers getting ejected from the track into those beams? Hell no.
Feb 13 2010 12:52PM
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HKizzle
Posts: 401 - Karma: 19
Yeah, this totally sucks. RIP
The men now have to start at the womens start, and there is now a wall where he crashed. The course is also under investigation.
Feb 13 2010 1:05PM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
this particular track is said to be really difficult, they had a long moment of silence during the opening ceromonies for him, sad. i didnt see the video, but i saw some pictures and it looked like he flew out of the track and smashed back first into a pole. insta death
Feb 13 2010 2:36PM
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nasSKIIER
Posts: 748 - Karma: 15
i just saw the video that is scary...RIP
Feb 13 2010 6:36PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
i would have to agree with you. they interviewed two german athletes (hackl and otto), both multiple WC and olympic medalists in luge and they said they never have witnessed something like that (when they were asked if that could have been avoided, so i guess they meant "somebody flying over the walls").

but it still looks weird and they should really add nets and pads to save another thing like that.

but one thing to think about is that: imagine some guy at X loses control and catches an edge before the lip and gets flipped beneath the landing. this is probability-wise maybe as probable as that luge accident and its somehow very hard to prevent. or ski jumping. i remember goldberger landing somewhat 6 ft away from the right barrier on his WR jump in planica. imagine what had happened if he smashed into the crowd after a 600 ft flight? so even though i feel like this steel pole should have been padded at least (so you would feel like: "yeah, they tried at least"), some stuff is probably unpreventable and we just can hope that we dont have to see more of it
Feb 13 2010 6:50PM
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lorida
Posts: 2833 - Karma: 46
Word, exactly what I was trying to get that.

Yes, they will probably (if they havn't already) cover those beams, but on a political/respect basis.

In reality, the odds of it happening again must be
Feb 13 2010 9:39PM
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J-Wallz
Posts: 1264 - Karma: 54
RIP
but i dont like the fact they shorten the course
Feb 14 2010 12:43AM
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Dainsey
Posts: 2263 - Karma: 378
i am so surprised they are showing this
makes my heart my stop
Feb 14 2010 1:02AM
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ChanchoVelez.
Posts: 1029 - Karma: 11
for sure. RIP so sad
Feb 14 2010 1:13AM
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NGA
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 186

:(

Feb 14 2010 1:21AM
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p.jones
Posts: 614 - Karma: 16
such a sad story. vibes to nodar's family and friends. I heard on tv that he was able to talk to his parents a few days before the crash, so that's definitely a good thing
Feb 14 2010 10:14AM
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Pocoyo
Posts: 122 - Karma: 11

I love the way pads are being offered as the solution!??!!

Deceleration from 40-60MPH to 0MPH in 0.5 seconds = dead, even with padding!

The only way to be safe in such a crash is to stay in the pipe an slide on your ass..unfortunately he left it and hit the nearest obsticle.

A hiigher wall and he would of beenfine.

Feb 14 2010 10:48AM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
i think inexperience played a huge role in this whole situation. 
Feb 14 2010 10:51AM
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Pocoyo
Posts: 122 - Karma: 11

Regardless of experience if the walls were raised through what was obviously a high risk area (the weight bearing poles within 2 feet of the course!) He would of been fine and just have dented confidence.

If you look at the footage he just gets ejected; walls a foot or two higher would of kept him in the pipe.

Poor guy.

Feb 14 2010 11:11AM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
i didnt mean any disrespect to the dead guy. it was a horrible event.  and i agree the track had part of it.


but in watching a few runs of the competition last night it didnt seem like some of the more veteren dudes would have crashed like that. and it was even mentioned that the guy who died did not have much experience luging.
Feb 14 2010 11:29AM
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