It’s needed for two (or four) of members of crew speed up the bolide step by step, harmonious as dancers from ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet. You can’t swing the sleigh, because it will slow the ride and the splits microseconds count. There’s one more criteria - huge legs’ power appearing in sprint speed. When you run about 10 seconds for 100m you can eventually think about taking part in this crazy sport. When dressed in shoes with special prickles, even nails, which are hammering into the icy ‘course’, competitors hear a signal to start – they start running. Everyone runs with different technique, but every move have to be coordinated with others, not to trample each other and run as the machine lets them. The one, who jumps last, with velocity about 45 km per hour, is speeding the bob running behind it and can’t pull up his knees too high. Those, who run the sides and jump earlier, with velocity about 30-35 km/h, have to carefully put their foots, because if they hit the ice with heel, everything will end up with fall before the ride. When they jump into speeding bobsleigh they can’t count on beautiful sights. German, French or Italian Alps – it’s not for them! Head between knees, eyes into floor and delicate reactions for pitching in the corners machine. Only the pilot is looking ahead and fixes the ride, but instead of wonderful mountain nooks he is seeing only the ice wall. It’s time to remind old cyclist’s question, what sight had he remembered the most from his races all over the world? The front wheel, he answered. That’s how world around is seen, during few long seconds, by bobsleigh competitors. Maw is coming to heart (subtly saying), but bluntly… to throat. What’s the specify of that crazy sport? Trainings, especially countries with gentle climate and small number of tracks is expensive – they go training to the USA. It’s not a sport that you can start from childhood. That’s why specialists are looking for candidates among sportsmen other disciplines, checking their strength, motor ability, braveness and… propose this insane fun. Insane? Yes, because who would decide on ride in icy chute down with velocity 50km/h? who? Brave, having appropriate motor coordination, speed, strength and other things that are needed sportsmen. Among armwrestlers one has been already found. You know who I’m talking about. Voevoda broke into icy rides that much as he already has World Championships and Olympic Games medals. We don’t know if he will go back to the table…
This material is about other competitor. You’re probably guessing, because in one of the articles or themes on forum I gave question as a puzzle. You don’t know?
Lubomir Jagnesak – because it’s about him – visited our redaction during stay at the Baltic Sea. Of course, first question, which we had to asked him, concerned famous ‘Arm Family’, which is Śnieżana, Rustam, Ruslan and Lubomir. Only the absence (about its reasons later) Of Lubomir at XXII Europe Championships in Gdańsk caused that family’s record of all time wasn’t scored. One, four members family could get eight medals, including a half for every country that are represented by them. Rustam and Ruslan – Ukraine, Śnieżana and Lubomir – Slovakia. But in May Family competed in ‘only’ three and it ended ‘only’ with six medals. I wanted to consider all aspects, so I asked – Does Arm Family have a chance to increase in one person more? I didn’t mean children, it’s other case. It comes about wives of Rustam’s and Ruslan’s brothers.
If they were competitors too, they would have control whole masterships! Unfortunately,
the chances are weak. Rustam has a wife, but she doesn’t do armwrestling. Ruslan is still a bachelor, so he can only increase the family to five members.
Love cannot be compelled’ – we’ll see which criteria will he take into account…
Why Lubomir wasn’t in Poland on EuroArm is a reason to next question. He took part in relay-race of Olympic Light, which road run through Slovakia. It’s an honour for every sportsman, so when he was invited he couldn’t refused.
Second, very hot question to Lubomir consider, of course, planned bobsleigh starts! Have you gone down the icy chute?
Lubomir: Not yet, I have trainings on simulators by far. To go really, you should first go through solid preparations. We’re running with bob on such tracks, firstly on flat, then little low to learn speeding the machine and jumping into it.
Lubomir, what are you looking for in this new sport?
Lubomir: Emotions! Motivation to trainings, especially now, when the injury of arm isn’t that bad. Here I have incentive to train all the time and simultaneously not to force this arm. I’m bothering with this injury more than a year. It’s time to get over it. Doctors said that longer break is important, but I have to train, I have to start, because I have been doing this for my whole life. Since childhood, firstly football, then table tennis with local successes, then motocross, then… I broke my leg. I have armwrestling in my heart all the time and for sure I will back, but now it’s time for bobsleighs! In our team we have competitor of weightlifting, the only one from Slovakia, which is starting in this year Olympic Games, it’s Martu Tesovic. Everyone has to weight about 90-100kg, moreover be fast and skillful.
Tell me, did you wanted bobsleigh on your own or they invited you?
Lubomir: They were waiting for meMany young tried, but it’s not simply. It’s not about ride. You have to be resistant for stress, you have to get on well with long groupings abroad. You have to be really healthy to hold out long stays in cold.
Do you want to get a medal at Olympic Games?
Lubomir: Of course I do! It’s a motivation for me!
What do you do beyond preparations for ride in icy chute?
Lubomir: With partner we have FitMax Gym – gym, Armwrestling room, we’re trying to set an example for young people, show that through the trainings they can achieve a lot. We’re trying, setting the example and it works!
I’m asking on behalf of readers, when, officially will you back to table?
Lubomir: Only after my arm stops hurting – I’ll be back. I think that next year.
So that, on behalf of all readers, I wish you success on ice trucks. However, from me, as an old man, I’ll ad - be careful, very careful.
Lubomir: I’ll try
Lubomir Jagnesak, to mention only the most important titles is: fivefold Senior World Champion, fourfold Senior Europe Champion, fivefold winner of NEMIROFF WORLD CUP.
PeSzy