Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track's lower start
The
Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is located in
Sigulda,
Latvia. Currently, the track manager is Dainis Dukurs, former bobsleigh brakeman and the father of skeleton racers
Martins and
Tomass Dukurs.
History
Sledding took place in Sigulda as early as 1887.
[ - accessed February 21, 2008.] Several
alpine skiing venues were held near the track following
World War II.
By the late 1960's, the city government of Sigulda approved construction of a new track, which was finally completed in 1986.
It was built for the needs of
Soviet bobsledders and
lugers. Although skeleton wasn't initially in the building plan, Sigulda has hosted World Cup races in skeleton in the 2000s. Also, luge competitions are hosted in Sigulda each year, however, the track can't host four-man bobsleigh races, therefore there haven't been any Bobsleigh World Cup or World Championship races hosted in Sigulda.
Zintis Ekmanis and the original track designer has designed a new layout which would change two curves and make four-man bobsleigh races possible, though lugers are not happy with this idea because this may render the track unusable for women's singles and men's doubles lugers. Also, Dainis Dukurs has said in an interview for Sporta Avīze that there was an experiment involving
Juris Šics,
Andris Šics,
Tomass Dukurs and
Martins Dukurs, in which the quartet drove with a four-man bobsleigh without crashing. Dukurs stated that this proves that the track is, in fact, suitable for four-man teams, but to make it perfect for bobsleigh, most of the track should be rebuilt. Reconstruction is expected to be completed in 2010. Also, an artificial ice start estacade will be built in summer of 2008.
Statistics
No vertical drop, percent grading, or turn names were mentioned.
Championships hosted
