Bobsleigh (see: Unsung Sports) attracts track and field athletes. Case and point.
A slew of track and field athletes have made their way to the ice track. It is a matter of skill versus coincidence. Every sprinter on the dry track knows the fundamentals of a powerful start and acceleration period. Meaning, every sprinter is a minor for the major ice track start...or are they? A bit of grit is included in the formula as well. If every sprinter could bobsled, then why hasn't Jamaica asked Usain Bolt to join their team? OK, Bolt is 6'5". Well then, why are the shorter sprinters not on the ice track?
I am not entirely sure. But, something tells me that attitude and ferociousness out of the dry track blocks has something to do with the transition to, what some bobsled experts say, "being a pitbull off the start in the bobsled event." Several U.S. athletes have made the smooth transition from dry track to ice track and medaled in Sochi, including Steve Langton and Lauryn Williams. Cheer it up because Lolo Jones, Aja Evans, Jazmine Fenlator, Emily Azevedo, Jamie Greubel, Kristi Koplin, Christ Fogt, Adam Clark, Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, and Dallas Robinson.
So, that is about half of the U.S. National Bobsled Team.
What can you divulge from bobsleigh? Power days. Leg power exercises such as, jumping, repetitions for speed, and acceleration exercises. For the home, these exercises include the following: jumping to touch or toward your ceiling, rapid squats or rapid split stance lunges, and wall drills (i.e., hands on the wall and driving through as if you are trying to push the wall forward.) Of course, you may have musculosketelal limitations that prevent you from properly executing these exercises. In that case, they should be addressed first as well as the modified way of either performing the exercise at a slower tempo or at the range of motion before pain arrives.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
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