Downhill Ice Skating

ScarySquirrel · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:24

This was an idea I had a while ago and I was mocked by my colleagues at the time. I tried to explain how it would work but they wouldn't listen, they decided to mock me instead.

My thinking behind this event is that ice skating is quick fast, and if you were going downhill it would be VERY fast, exiting and perhaps a little dangerous. A great recipe for a Winter Olympic Event.

This is how it would work:

1 // Get the 'arena', lay it flat and fill it with water

2 // Freeze the water

3 // Tilt it and suspend. Install crowd seeting and stuff. Put in slaloms for them to go round.

4 // Extremely fun, exciting sport.

There could be slalom and speed events. I can't think of any more.

Thoughts?

DanTheMan · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:26

ScarySquirrel said:
There could be slalom and speed events. I can't think of any more.

Thoughts?

'Whoever is alive by the end wins' is about the only possible sport.

ScarySquirrel · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:26

DanTheMan said:
'Whoever is alive by the end wins' is about the only possible sport.

You could put pillows at the bottom to stop them getting hurt as I appreciate stopping might be an issue.

Jokester · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:26

Sounds like a similar principle to skiing in Scotland.

The Dread Pirate · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:27

Dude thats the downhill speed skiing events they cover a steep ski slope with lots of water and it turns to ice then they ski down it.

lolism · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:27

Did RandomTom's topic "Can you swim uphill?" inspire you to ice skate downhill?

ScarySquirrel · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:28

Capn' $qu!ff said:
Dude thats the downhill speed skiing events they cover a steep ski slope with lots of water and it turns to ice then they ski down it.

Oh. Bugger.

Well, these people would wear ice skates.

lolism said:
Did RandomTom's topic "Can you swim uphill?" inspire you to ice skate downhill?

I never saw that thread but it sounds good.

The Dread Pirate · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:28

ScarySquirrel said:
Oh. Bugger.

Well, these people would wear ice skates.

....and kill themselves

Dave10 · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:30

I think you'd struggle to find a freezer big enough for stage 2?

iSam · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:30

It would be a death trap! Bit like those nutters that chase cheese down a hill in Somerset.

stevenazari1 · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:37

stopping wouldnt be a problem, landing on 2 thin pieces of metal would.

1. if you have ever ice skated before you would know how hard it is to balance on a moving skate. now think of it travelling at around 50mph+ then think of lift off and gravity adding to that speed in downward force.

2. the skate would likely break

3. your angle would probably break from the skate forcing it hard left/right

4. the impact to the floor would be so intense you would likely cut into the floor

5. there wouldnt be enough space to stop. (ski'ers have snow at the bottom to create a friction on the surface) a skater requires ice only therefore has no friction other than sharp turns to escape the gforce behind the skater.

I could go on but I think thats enough reason to call this idea a day.

gillywibble · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:38

Isotope said:
It would be a death trap! Bit like those nutters that chase cheese down a hill in Somerset.

All those dead bodies

D.P. · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:40

Jokester said:
Sounds like a similar principle to skiing in Scotland.

Indeed, normal downhill ski races taken place on pistes hard enough to skate down. Water in injected at high pressure to freeze the snow hard.

ScarySquirrel · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:41

stevenazari1 said:
stopping wouldnt be a problem, landing on 2 thin pieces of metal would.

1. if you have ever ice skated before you would know how hard it is to balance on a moving skate. now think of it travelling at around 50mph+ then think of lift off and gravity adding to that speed in downward force.

2. the skate would likely break

3. your angle would probably break from the skate forcing it hard left/right

4. the impact to the floor would be so intense you would likely cut into the floor

5. there wouldnt be enough space to stop. (ski'ers have snow at the bottom to create a friction on the surface) a skater requires ice only therefore has no friction other than sharp turns to escape the gforce behind the skater.

I could go on but I think thats enough reason to call this idea a day.

There is no jumping involved.

yaboy · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:42

This should be a themepark ride called "emo"

They die quicker than sliting their wrists

Jingo... · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:42

Isotope said:
It would be a death trap! Bit like those nutters that chase cheese down a hill in Somerset.

That I think you'll find is the sport of kings!!! (and without trying to be too pedantic- it's actually in Gloucestershire)

IcE-ColD · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:44

Something a bit like this?

http://spikedhumor.com/articles/141395/Red-Bull-Crashed-Ice-Quebec-2008.html

stevenazari1 · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:44

ScarySquirrel said:
There is no jumping involved.

appologies, thought you was referring to the ski'ing slope with the giant ramp at the end

still, down hill skating wouldnt carry enough friction on the ground to turn hard enough at such speed. points 2 3 and 5 still stand.

edit:

ice-cold post

you have to laugh that they need to jump to the floor to stop lol

Jingo... · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:46

That link certainly makes a few people in this thread look silly! ! unlucky eh stevenazari

stevenazari1 · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:50

trickyj said:
That link certainly makes a few people in this thread look silly! ! unlucky eh stevenazari

meh those guys were all over the shop and they are proffessionals, it was more of a scrap than a skate off. if they were on their own and it was timed it would be better imo, but tbh cant see it catching on.