Cool Runnings in Lake Placid

Lake Placid is one of the few places in the world that allows you to feel like an Olympic bobsledder

Story and Photos by Jeremy Fisher

Huddled tightly between three other people in steel sled, you begin to feel your heart beat faster and faster. Then as the sled begins to descend down a long and windy track made of ice, you feel the adrenaline build along with the speed. Your stomach seems to do a summersault as you hit the first turn and the sled goes vertical. The sound of the ice scrapping beneath you is almost deafening and you realize that this is what an Olympic bobsledder’s life is like.

The Lake Placid region is a haven for winter sports enthusiasts because it was the site of two Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and 1980. Lake Placid has many activities and facilities such as massive ski jump towers, Whiteface and Gore Mountain ski resorts, speed skate tracks and the famous Olympic center where the "Miracle on Ice" occurred in 1980. Probably the most unique thing the region has to offer is at the Olympic Sports Complex in Mt. Van Hoevenberg where one of only three bobsled rides exist in the western hemisphere.

Director of the Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum Liz De Fazio says, "the first bobsled track was built in 1930 and continued to be the only track in North America until one was made in Calgary for the 1988 Olympics." Hundreds of champion bobsled, luge, and skeleton riders from all over the world have trained and competed in Lake Placid. "The history of the track is quite extensive," De Fazio adds.

"When you're waiting at the top with your helmet on, you start to get pretty nervous."

The complex allows visitors to ride the half-mile track for $75 dollars for adults and $65 dollars for children, so they can feel the intensity of bobsledding. Carl Novak, a tourist from Albany, says, "We came up to Lake Placid for my son's hockey tournament, but we all know we wanted to ride the bobsled." Carl is one of many, daily visitors who come to the bobsled track expecting a thrill. "When you're waiting at the top with your helmet on, you start to get pretty nervous," he says.

Michael Gonyea has been an operation supervisor at the bobsled run for thirty-seven years and knows the operations of the track quite extensively. During tourist hours, he can be seen at the lodge, chatting with visitors. "Some people come to the track expecting an easy ride, but it is a lot rougher than you think," Gonyea says. He loves his job because he loves seeing people's reactions before and after the ride. "Getting to ride the bobsled for free is pretty fun, too," Gonyea adds.

Aside from being a popular place for tourists, mornings and evenings at the track are quite different. Part of Gonyea's job is getting the track prepared for the many teams who use the track for practice. Gonyea says, "the athletes use the track for training before we open it up to tourists so every evening we re-sheet the ice by hand so they ride on the best ice possible." Bobsledding is a sport where every second counts so re-sheeting the ice can be a strenuous job because there can be no room for error. "Even a tiny bump in the track can mess up bobsledder's time," Gonyea says.

Bobsledding can be a dangerous sport which is why it requires professional athletes who have dedicated years of their lives training to operate the sled. There is little actual participation from the amateur rider because a professional driver and brakeman is present on every run so the ride is safe and enjoyable. "The drivers like to play games with some tourists, such as pretending to be blind," Gonyea says. All that is required from the visitor is to sit and experience the ride.

"Some People come to the track expecting an easy ride but it is a lot rougher than you think."

Along with participating in bobsled runs, the complex is also home to multiple bobsled competitions such as the Goodwill Games, World Cup and other events. This gives tourists and residents of the region the chance to see the professional athletes perform at their finest.

Have you experienced the bobslide ride?