The Basics of Bobsleigh: What to Know About the Sport—More Importantly, How Do You Win a Race?

Winter sports may not be available in all countries around the world, but that does not make them any less interesting to learn about. Take bobsleigh, for example.

For many people, their introduction to bobsleigh is probably the Jamaican bobsleigh team, who made headlines for qualifying for the Olympics despite Jamaica being a tropical country.

If you've ever been curious as to how bobsleigh race is won or how it just goes in general, keep reading, and we'll tell you all about it.

The Bobsleigh Basics

Bobsleigh is a team sport, and racers can compete in teams of two or four. In recent years, however, there have been solo athletes at bobsleigh events, usually in female races.

The athletes get on a gravity-powered sled and race down ice tracks in timed speed runs. These tracks typically have steep drops and narrow twists.

The team has a standing start and must push the sled as fast as they possible can over a distance of 65 meters. Then, they will have to load themselves into the sled. The first person to enter is always the pilot, who stays at the very front. Pilots are also known as the drivers.

In a four-man bobsleigh, two people are pushing at the side get into the sled after the pilot, according to the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association. The last to get in is the brakeman, who stays at the back.

The goal of the race is to basically be the fastest one to slide down the icy track.

And before anyone gets confused, bobsleigh is the term that the Olympics officially uses to refer to this sport, but it's also the exact same thing as bobsled.

How Do You Win a Bobsleigh Event?

A bobsleigh event typically consists of multiple heats. The usual number is four. The team's time in each run is added together.

Essentially, the team with the fastest time or the lowest combined time is declared the winner of the bobsleigh event.