30-612: The Ice Arena (stylised as IceArenA ), formerly Snowdome and Mt Thebarton Snow and Ice , is an ice sports and public skate centre, located in Thebarton , Adelaide , South Australia . The centre is the home of the Ice Factor Foundation Inc and the ice sports associations (SAISA, IHSA, and BASA), and their respective clubs, including Adelaide Adrenaline ( AIHL ), Adelaide Rush ( AWIHL ), and Adelaide Generals ( AJIHL ). The centre first opened in 1981 as
60-602: A Winter Olympics competition, following speed skier Nicolas Bochatay , aged 27, who died while preparing for the Albertville 1992 games; and British luger Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypecki and skier Ross Milne , aged 19, who both died in the run-up to the Innsbruck 1964 games. The sport of luge is governed by the Fédération International de Luge de Course (FIL, International Luge Federation). The FIL
90-596: A centripetal acceleration of up to 5g. Men's Singles have their start locations near where the bobsled and skeleton competitors start at most tracks, while both the Doubles and Women's Singles competition have their starthouse located farther down the track. Artificial track luge is the fastest and most agile sledding sport. Natural tracks are adapted from existing mountain roads and paths. Artificially banked curves are not permitted. The track's surface should be horizontal. They are naturally iced. Tracks can get rough from
120-818: A change of management. The venue offers a wide variety of activities including ice hockey lessons, ice skating lessons, snow play sessions, school holiday skating, birthday parties, public skating sessions. Ice sports Winter sports or winter activities are competitive sports or non-competitive recreational activities which are played on snow or ice . Most are variations of skiing , ice skating and sledding . Traditionally, such games were only played in cold areas during winter , but artificial snow and artificial ice allow more flexibility. Playing areas and fields consist of either snow or ice. Artificial ice can be used to provide ice rinks for ice skating , ice hockey , para ice hockey , ringette , broomball , bandy , rink bandy , rinkball , and spongee in
150-634: A fatal crash during his final practice run for the 2010 Winter Olympics on the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia , Canada . Hours later, the International Luge Federation concluded that the accident was caused by a steering error and not a track error; nevertheless, changes to the track were made before the re-opening. Kumaritashvili was the fourth athlete to die while in preparation for
180-445: A flat, aerodynamic position on the sled, keeping their heads low to minimize air resistance. They steer the sled mainly with their calves by applying pressure on the runners—right calf to turn left, left calf to turn right. It takes a precise mix of shifting body weight, applying pressure with calves and rolling the shoulders. There are also handles for minor adjustments. A successful luger maintains complete concentration and relaxation on
210-594: A luger must have strong neck, upper body, abdominal, and thigh muscles. Athletes also use wind tunnels to train. Strength training is essential to withstand the extreme G-forces of tight turns at high speeds. Since lugers have very little protection other than a visor and helmet, they must be able to endure the physical pounding administered by the track when mistakes are made. As with many extreme sports , luging has risks. Though most injuries involve bumps, bruises, broken bones and concussions, fatalities do occasionally occur. Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili suffered
240-400: A milder climate. The sport of speed skating uses a frozen circular track of ice, but in some facilities the track is combined in an enclosed area used for sports requiring an ice rink or the rink itself is used. Alternatively, ice cross downhill uses a track with various levels of elevation and a combination of bends. Long distance skating ( a.k.a. "marathon skating") such as tour skating
270-511: A more casual basis, often by children: Luge A luge / l uː ʒ / is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine (face-up) and feet-first. A luger begins seated, propelling themselves initially from handles on either side of the start ramp, then steers by using the calf muscles to flex the sled's runners or by exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the pod. Racing sleds weigh 21–25 kg (46–55 lb) for singles and 25–30 kg (55–66 lb) for doubles. Luge
300-521: Is 360 meters long, and is open to the public through winter. World championships have been held since 1979 while European championships have been held since 1970 . In season 2015/16 FIL started with the Junior Worldcup . There are five luge disciplines. These are further broken into several age classes - multiple youth and junior classes that cover the range of age 7–20, and general class (ages 21 and older). Older competitors may enjoy
330-503: Is also the name of an Olympic sport that employs that sled and technique. It is not to be confused with skeleton bob, which is also a single person tray-like sled in the Bobsleigh family, and the name of the sport that uses that sled, but which is designed for a running start, steering by shoulders and feet, and to be laid on face down and head first. While skeleton and bobsleigh are part of one international federation and sport, luge
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#1732790365358360-583: Is only performed outdoors and uses the available natural ice from frozen lakes, ponds, and marshes. Tour skating at times includes speed skaters, though tour skates are more common. Common individual sports include cross-country skiing , alpine skiing , snowboarding , ski jumping , speed skating , figure skating , luge , skeleton , bobsleigh , ski orienteering and snowmobiling . Common team sports include ice hockey , ringette , broomball (on either an indoor ice rink, or an outdoor ice rink or field of snow), curling , rinkball , and bandy . Based on
390-466: Is organised separately by the International Luge Federation, FIL . Lugers can reach speeds of over 140 km/h (87 mph), and is the fastest of the three 'sliding' sports. Austrian Manuel Pfister reached a top speed of 154 km/h (96 mph) on a track in Whistler , Canada , prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics . Lugers compete against a timer in one of the most precisely timed sports in
420-457: The Ice Arena with a full size skating rink surrounded by a speed skating track. In late 1987, the centre closed for the construction of the world's first indoor ski slope and reopened in 1988 as Mt Thebarton Snow and Ice , featuring what was reported to be the world's first indoor ski slope on artificial snow. To accommodate the new structure supporting the ski slope and to make room for
450-431: The bobsleigh , originated in the health-spa town of St Moritz , Switzerland , in the mid-to-late 19th century, through the endeavours of hotel entrepreneur Caspar Badrutt . Badrutt successfully sold the idea of winter resorting, as well as rooms with food, drink, and activities. His more adventurous English guests began adapting delivery boys' sleds for recreation, which led to collisions with pedestrians as they sped down
480-790: The Olympic Winter Games today, would be held during the Olympic Summer Games . It was originally wanted to keep all of the Olympic sports together under one event and program, but due to environmental demands of some sports, it had to be separated. While most winter sports are played outside, ice hockey, speed skating and to some extent bandy have moved indoors starting in the mid-20th century. Indoor ice rinks with artificial ice allow ice skating and hockey to be played in hot climates. Outdoor winter sports will likely be severely impacted because of climate change in
510-649: The United States. The Upper Peninsula Luge Club in Negaunee, Michigan , is the only natural luge track in the United States. The over 800 meter (half-mile) track features 10 full corners along its 88-meter (289 ft) vertical drop. Canada has tracks in Camrose , Hinton Luge , Alberta , Calgary and Ontario Luge Club. The track in Naseby, New Zealand is the only one in the southern hemisphere . The track
540-474: The bottom of the slope, the concentric skating rink concept was abandoned and replaced by two ice skating rinks (one large 56×26m rink and one smaller 30×15m surface). The centre underwent a further name change to Snowdome Adelaide . The facility temporarily closed in June 2005 due to the running costs of the centre, but it re-opened minus the indoor ski slope with the new name of IceArenA . On 4 March 2016,
570-636: The braking and steering action. Athletes use a steering rein, put out their hands and use their legs in order to drive around the tight corners. Braking is often required in front of curves and is accomplished by the use of spikes built on the bottom of the shoes. Tracks have a slope of not more than 15%. Most of the tracks are situated in Austria and Italy, with others in Germany, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, France, Turkey, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, New Zealand, Canada and
600-770: The lanes and alleys of the village. The first organized meeting of the sport took place in 1883 in Switzerland . In 1913, the Internationale Schlittensportverband or International Sled Sports Federation was founded in Dresden , Germany . This body governed the sport until 1935, when it was incorporated in the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT, International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation). After it had been decided that luge would replace
630-704: The large ice was closed due to issues with the pipe works under the large ice. Media release stated that Ice Arena were in discussions with the government. On 7 May 2016, the large ice reopened, with various dignitaries in attendance, after a government grant was provided to purchase a new, modern refrigeration plant. On 15 September 2021, the Ice Arena helped launch the National Hockey Super League (NHSL), Australia's first professional ice hockey league. The arena reopened in November 2023 after
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#1732790365358660-674: The next century. Note : the Olympic rings next to a sport indicates that this particular sport is included in the Winter Olympic Games , as of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The Paralympic logo indicates the same for a sport not in the Olympics but in the Winter Paralympic Games . Sports that use sleds going down ice tracks or pulled by something: Some sports are competed in (or simply enjoyed) on
690-484: The number of participants, ice hockey is the world's most popular winter team sport, followed by bandy. Winter sports at times have their own multi-sport events, such as the Winter Olympic Games and the Winter Universiade . Snow and ice during the winter time has enabled sliding as a means of transportation, using sledges, skis and skates. This also led to different pastimes and sports being developed in
720-407: The sled while travelling at high speeds. Fastest times result from following the perfect "line" down the track. Any slight error, such as brushing against the wall, costs time. Track conditions are also important. Softer ice tends to slow speeds, while harder ice tends to lead to faster times. Lugers race at speeds averaging 120–145 km/h (75–90 mph) around high banked curves while experiencing
750-413: The sport in masters (age 30–50), and senior masters (age 51+) classes. In a team relay competition, one man, one woman, and a doubles pair form a team. A touchpad at the bottom of the run is touched by a competitor signaling a teammate at the top of the run to start. Rules and procedures for races are very precise: The sport of luge requires an athlete to balance mental and physical fitness. Physically,
780-648: The sport of skeleton at the Olympic Games , the first World Championships in the sport were held in 1955 in Oslo ( Norway ). In 1957, the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL, International Luge Federation) was founded. Luge events were first included in the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 . Americans were slow to adopt the sport of luge. The first luge run in North America
810-625: The winter season as compared to other times of the year. Naturally, winter sports are more popular in countries with longer winter seasons. In the European Alps , St. Moritz became a popular winter resort in 1864. In the early days of the Olympics there was not much differentiation between the summer and winter games. These confusions would span from around the late 1890s until the early to mid 1900s. During this time, some sports considered to be winter sports and played or performed during
840-560: The world—to one millisecond on artificial tracks. The first recorded use of the term "luge" dates to 1905 and derives from the Savoy / Swiss dialect of the French word luge , meaning "small coasting sled". The practical use of sleds is ancient and widespread. The first recorded sled races took place in Norway sometime during the 15th century. The sport of luge, like the skeleton and
870-531: Was built at Lolo Hot Springs, Montana , in 1965. Although the United States competed in every Olympic luge event from 1964 through 1976, it was not until 1979 that the United States Luge Association was founded. The first artificial American track was completed in that year for use in the 1980 XIII Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, New York. Since that time the United States luge program has greatly improved. A second artificial track
900-638: Was constructed near Park City, Utah , for the 2002 XIX Olympic Winter Games at Salt Lake City. Caitlin Nash and Natalie Corless, both of Canada, became the first all-female team to compete in a Senior World Cup doubles race in luge in 2019. Artificial luge tracks have specially designed and constructed banked curves plus walled-in straights. Most tracks are artificially refrigerated, but artificial tracks without artificial cooling also exist (for example, in St. Moritz ). Tracks tend to be very smooth. The athletes ride in
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