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I noticed the same thing while watching the
Olympics. Just before the start, the sled rests on its starboard side. Then the competitors tilt it upright, and begin pushing it down the run until they jump in. Every team did the same thing, so it wasn't just the idiosyncrasy of one team or one sled. <> (I can't find a video from this year's competition, but look
here for an example at 4:01.) →
Michael JⓉⒸⓂ14:38, 25 February 2018 (UTC)reply
If you leave the sled sitting with the runners pressed to the ice they will tend to freeze to the surface. You will also notice that once the sled is the right way up they keep it moving back and forth to prevent that happening. So the idea is not to put the runners to the ice until you are ready, and then make sure they can't freeze in place, because even if it only took a little extra power to break them away again, that could make a difference in a race determined by tiny fractions of a second.
Wymspen (
talk)
15:04, 25 February 2018 (UTC)reply
1992 Olympic speedskating was outside. 1984 was outside but Sarajevo so if that was boycotted like Moscow no wonder you don't remember. Otherwise it's been inside ever since.
Sagittarian Milky Way (
talk)
22:10, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
Its simply to keep the skates in perfect condition. Since they have a hollow shape with very sharp edges and a very high surface finish, which is of course essential especially in competitions where a 1/100 second may decide if its going to be the gold or "just" the silver medal, that will wear off surprisingly fast, no matter they are made of high alloy steel. You probably have seen the same from ice skaters, who put on plastic protection rails on their skates immediately when they leave the ice. --
Kharon (
talk)
21:23, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
All ice skates seem to have this shape, why? Is it just the best shape to make a modern steel skate that's thick enough to be strong and not chip? Is it to make being cut by the skate less severe without increasing friction?
Sagittarian Milky Way (
talk)
22:34, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
The shape is simply so they can cut into the ice enough to cancel any side drift. Else skaters could not change direction let alone skate sharp curves at high speed. --
Kharon (
talk)
00:58, 3 March 2018 (UTC)reply
Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
I noticed the same thing while watching the
Olympics. Just before the start, the sled rests on its starboard side. Then the competitors tilt it upright, and begin pushing it down the run until they jump in. Every team did the same thing, so it wasn't just the idiosyncrasy of one team or one sled. <> (I can't find a video from this year's competition, but look
here for an example at 4:01.) →
Michael JⓉⒸⓂ14:38, 25 February 2018 (UTC)reply
If you leave the sled sitting with the runners pressed to the ice they will tend to freeze to the surface. You will also notice that once the sled is the right way up they keep it moving back and forth to prevent that happening. So the idea is not to put the runners to the ice until you are ready, and then make sure they can't freeze in place, because even if it only took a little extra power to break them away again, that could make a difference in a race determined by tiny fractions of a second.
Wymspen (
talk)
15:04, 25 February 2018 (UTC)reply
1992 Olympic speedskating was outside. 1984 was outside but Sarajevo so if that was boycotted like Moscow no wonder you don't remember. Otherwise it's been inside ever since.
Sagittarian Milky Way (
talk)
22:10, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
Its simply to keep the skates in perfect condition. Since they have a hollow shape with very sharp edges and a very high surface finish, which is of course essential especially in competitions where a 1/100 second may decide if its going to be the gold or "just" the silver medal, that will wear off surprisingly fast, no matter they are made of high alloy steel. You probably have seen the same from ice skaters, who put on plastic protection rails on their skates immediately when they leave the ice. --
Kharon (
talk)
21:23, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
All ice skates seem to have this shape, why? Is it just the best shape to make a modern steel skate that's thick enough to be strong and not chip? Is it to make being cut by the skate less severe without increasing friction?
Sagittarian Milky Way (
talk)
22:34, 27 February 2018 (UTC)reply
The shape is simply so they can cut into the ice enough to cancel any side drift. Else skaters could not change direction let alone skate sharp curves at high speed. --
Kharon (
talk)
00:58, 3 March 2018 (UTC)reply