93km/hr

I never would have thought in a million years that I would fling myself down an Olympic luge track...let alone HEAD FIRST! I always thought those athletes (if you could call them that) were a little loose in the head, I mean, who in their right mind (or wrong mind for that matter!) would ever dream of such a thing? However, when an opportunity like this is offered to you AND you get to pay real money for it, somehow it just makes sense and money just flies out of my wallet! Before you know it, I'm the one flinging my body down an icicle roller-coaster about 3 inches from the ice...oh yeah, and traveling at an INCREDIBLE rate...head first!!! Now YOU tell ME who has something loose in the head?!?!

It all started earlier in the week when one of my co-workers asked if a few of us wanted to try the Skeleton on the Olympic luge track. He had done it a few weeks ago and said it was a blast -- all we had to do was sign up to the Whistler Sliding Club and ask if we could do it. Three of us signed up and within in moments, our Saturday afternoon plan was taking shape. After signing our life away and paying $50 for two runs we were reassured from the lady that of all the three forms of sleds (bobsleigh, luge and skeleton), the skeleton is actually the safest! Ha! She said that if each of the sleds were let go from the top of the track without anyone on/in them, the skeleton would be the only to make it to the finish without crashing! Phewph! Not only that, but I found it oddly reassuring that there was no mention of how quickly an emergency crew could get to you if you did, in fact, crash! Oh well...

Anyway, we get into the track area and have a look into the tube of ice and the WALL of ice on the last corner which happens to be a U-turn (where you are apparently going to experience 2G's of force!)...and head up to our launching pad -- thankfully only a third of the way up the track to corner 11 of 16. Nervous jitters and giggles are coming from everyone now and as we're walking up to our proverbial 'brain fart' of the day...especially since we are hearing our names announced on over the speakers! So official! There were about 20 of us all tolled and it was a fun bunch!

Once we got to our spot, they started calling us in order and shooting us down the course! It was a rainy day so the course was apparently slower but the first guy down reached a speed of 97km/hr! I was in the middle of the pack and was trying to play it cool the whole time but when it comes down to it, I was freaked! I get loaded onto the sled and am told the final points: hang on, keep your elbows it, shoulders down, head down, feet up...and just lay there like a sack of potatoes. Let me tell you, that alone was probably the most comforting statement of the day...it's a good thing I like potatoes! So, down I go...just trying to breath, stay calm and not move! I was peaking up here and there so I could see where the corners were and if/when I'd be flung up the ice wall. It was INCREDIBLE! The final turn is fantastic and then the course shoots you up a hill where three other people are there to stop you and grab you off the track. I stood up with legs a little shaky after traveling 92km/hr but life is good! I was ALIVE! We are toted back up to our start in the back of a truck and it felt like we were loading into a plane in order to only jump out of it again!

By the second run, we all felt like semi-professionals and everyone was wishing the guy would push us a little harder at the start to really get us going! Some people were even stripping off their jackets and snow pants to get rid of the drag. Second time down, I made sure that I kept my head down, staring at the ice (so close that I'm sure if I stuck my tongue out it would've been stuck right onto the track!)...and boy, it felt a LOT faster! The hood of my jacket became untucked and slowed me down (I think!) but my maximum speed overall was 93km/hr!

I am totally hooked on this sport and can't wait to do it again! Next time FOR SURE I'll be sporting a spandex uni-suit and go on a prime weather day where the course will be super slick! This Olympic course is apparently the fastest in the world (no big deal)...and I can't wait to see the real athletes do their thing in a few weeks!

What a rush!