Bobsledding, with Olympic Gold Medalists Curt Tomasevicz & Steve Mesler

About This Episode

Join Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly as they get ready to take a run into the daring, dangerous world of Olympic bobsledding with help from StarTalk veteran astrophysicist Charles Liu. You’ll learn about the science behind reaching terminal velocity and what it feels like to pull 5gs in a turn in one of the most exciting Olympic sports to watch. Next up, Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist Curt Tomasevicz joins the discussion to give us a viewpoint from inside the sled. Find out how Curt transitioned from college football to bobsledding, what goes into planning and building bobsled courses, and how weather and different types of ice can impact a run. You’ll also hear from Curt’s teammate, Steve Mesler, who weighs in on the way drivers and teammates communicate – or don’t – during a race. Discover how their sled got the nickname “Night Train,” how team members sync up with each other before the start of the run, and the important role each team member plays during a 60-second run.. Explore the difference between two-person sleds and four-person sleds. Investigate the ways bobsledders use wind tunnels to practice off the track. All that, plus, Gary and Chuck ask our Olympians the most important question of all: “Is it Bobsled or Bobsleigh?”

NOTE: All-Access subscribers can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: Bobsledding, with Olympic Gold Medalists Curt Tomasevicz & Steve Mesler