Olympic bobsleigh track
What makes La Plagne so special!
It is one of the 7 European and 13 bobsleigh tracks in operation.
Built just over 30 years ago, the slope is part of the heritage and legacy of the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games.
It is unique in France and is also a ‘model’ for the conversion of a post-Olympic site.
The track and its team now have their sights set on the JOP 2030!
The track is used by French clubs for their sporting activities, as well as for international training sessions and competitions, but it also offers tourist descents with three experiences, as well as piloting initiation sessions.
Open from mid-December to early April, weather permitting.
Looking ahead to the 2030 winter Olympics and Paralympic games
The French Alps’ bid for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games candidature has now been officially validated. The infrastructure in La Plagne, France’s one and only bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track, was a decisive element from the start in the dossier presented to the International Olympic Committee in the bid to host the ice events.
To this end, the site that was built for the 1992 winter Games will benefit from technical structural renovations including, for example: thermal insulation of the outsides of the bends, replacement of the sun protection covers and a modification of the final deceleration, as well as the renovation and redesigning of the buildings to meet international standards. The work will be part of a concerted energy-saving strategy, with sustainable development as the guiding principle.
Gauge of thrills for the different rides down the bobsleigh track
The bobsleigh track offers 4 experiences for the general public, each more thrilling than the last!
Developed following the 1992 Olympic Games, the Bob Raft and Speed Luge have gone on to prove their worth on this legendary slope; both are exclusive La Plagne inventions.
Below, from left to right: Bob Racing, Bob Raft and Speed Luge.
Video
Some figures
- Length: 1,507.5m
- Elevation drop: 124.5m
- Average gradient: 8.29%
-19 bends
-12,000 to 14,000 clients over a season
- Speed record: 134km/hr in a bobsleigh
Behind the scenes of France’s biggest skating rink
Objective: to ice the 6800 m2 surface area (4.7 skating rinks) in just one month in 4 steps:
1/ start up the 3 compressors that have been in hibernation for 7 months
2/ cool the 1500 m long concrete structure with 90 km of pipes running through it using a refrigeration fluid composed of 50% water and 50% glycol
3/ spray water (from the source of an old mine and not suitable for consumption) onto the concrete at between -4°C and -5°C, then fill in / shape using 180 m³ of crushed ice
4/ refine the profile
