Amazing Races: Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge

Racers compete as they speed over ice and snow!

Thrills and excitement await visitors at the 2012 International Federation of Bobsleigh and Tobogganing. Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing) (FIBT) World Championships! Athletes will race around 20 curves on a 1,455- meter course in Lake Placid, New York. The bobsleighs will travel at speeds close to 130 kilometers per hour during the February 13 to 26 event.

All about bobsleighing
The sport of bobsleighing is popular today, but it didn't start out as a competitive sport. In the beginning, bobsleighing was used for fun and as a form of transportation. Accounts of the activity date back to the 16th century. Yet bobsleighing as a sport didn't begin until the 19th century, when the Swiss designed a de vice to steer a sleigh. These sleighs were called "bobsleighs" because of the way the racers bobbed back and forth, hoping to increase their speed.

In 1923 the FIBT was formed. One year later, the four-man bobsleigh competition made its appearance at the 1924 Winter Olympics in France. Today, bobsleighs are made of steel and fiberglass, weigh up to 210 kilograms and hold two- or four-person teams.

What is a "skeleton"?
In 1892, a British man invented a new sled made almost entirely of metal. The design allowed a single rider to lie face down on a flat surface and slide headfirst. The sled became known as a "skeleton." Though no  one knows where the name originated, some say the original sled resembled a human skeleton.

In 1926, the International Olympic Committee declared skeleton on Olympic sport. Participation in the sport continues to grow, and currently 30 countries from six continents compete in the sport.

Luge: An independent federation
Although the sport of luge was once part of the FIBT, in FIL (International Luge Federation) was formed. Seven years later, luge made its Olympic debut. The fastest and perhaps the most dangerous of the three sports, luge racing uses a small sled, which provides little protection. Lugers lie on their backs and plunge feet-first down icy tracks at speeds up to 150 km per hour.

These fast and exciting winter sports draw crowds of people! If you're looking for some winter fun, why not join them?

Grammar Tips:
Accounts of the activity date back to the 16th century.
"to date back to" - to begin in a certain time.
"date back to" - talk about something started for a period of time, and the time passed.
The country club dates back to the 60s.
The tourists are visiting a castle that dates back to the 13th century.

Vocabulary Tips:
federation-a group of people or nations gather together.联盟，联合会。联邦。
*The federation of Hong Kong industries held a luncheon on Sep. 26th. 联合会
* The U.S.A. is a federation of 50 states. 美国是一个由50个州组成的联邦政府。
transportation- 运输，运送，（交通，运输工具）"trans"-越过
*The transportation of this artwork cost a lot of money.运送
*Visitors to the exhibition are advised to take public transportation. 建议搭乘公共运输。
bob- (bobbing/bobbed)moving or bounce up and down, side to side, back and force.上下左右快速摆动（移动）
*The raft was bobbing on the rushing river and the people almost fell into the water.
*The race car bobbed a lot when it passed this muddy area.
originate-start, begin发源，来自，产生 "ori"- “ 开始.”
originate (from/in)
*The customs of Lunar New Year originated from a legend of a monster.
*These spices originated in India.香料来自于。。
debut - "t"在此不发音。初次登场，初次演出，初次发片 to be seen in the public at first time.
*The actress made her debut in her school's musical when she was 15.
*The singer made her debut in 1995.
plunge-going down at very fast speed, quickly falling.快速下降，快速下滑。空中跳伞，高空跳板下水。
*The elevator suddenly plunged a few feet, hurting passengers in the fall.
*Due to the strike, the stock price of this car company plunged 10% today.

Chat Room:
thrills and excitement await visitors.
wait/await- 等待
wait-intransitive 用在口语上，不及物动词，要加“介系词for"
await-transitive 及物动词，不加“介系词”， 比较”文言“大多用在等待抽象事物，如等某人的到来。
I'm awaiting Peter's arrival.
waiting for someone - I'm waiting for Peter.
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bobsleigh, skeleton and luge- 雪车，俯卧雪橇，需橇
sleigh/sled-雪橇
sleigh (Europe)有座位的大型雪橇，有动物在前拉跑的
sled (U.S.A)体积小的，小孩在雪地上玩的小雪橇，必须是在斜坡地上才能玩，由上而下滑行。
dog sled-狗拉的雪橇。sled pulled by dog.


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