Paramonovo (pps) The first artificially refrigerated luge track in Paramonovo just outside Moscow has been homologated by the International Luge Federation (FIL). For safety reasons, the homologation certificate was awarded to the facility imposing further conditions, primarily relating to the extension of safety walls.
With the new track approximately 60 kilometers outside the Russian capital, there are now 15 artificially refrigerated tracks all over the world: Altenberg/GER, Calgary/CAN, Cesana/ITA, Igls/AUT, Königssee/GER, La Plagne/FRA, Lake Placid/USA, Lillehammer/NOR, Nagano/JPN, Oberhof/GER, Park City/USA, Sigulda/LAT, Whistler/CAN and Winterberg/GER.
During the homologation in Paramonovo, which was supervised by Klaus Bonsack, a member of the FIL Track Construction Commission, more than 100 runs were completed from all three start heights (men, women/doubles, juniors) without any accidents occurring. In addition to changes to the track construction to improve safety, the FIL delegate also recommended improvements in connection with storing positions for sleds and equipment at the women’s start. According to Bonsack, the brickwork has already been completed for a hotel close to the track.
The planning group of the Lomonosov University of Moscow headed by Dr. Alexander Schachnazarov and Dr. Alexander Ostroumonov was responsible for the Russian project. A special computer program was developed especially for this track.
As a result of the natural altitude difference of only 78 meters (256 feet), the first 300 meters (984 feet) of the ice track were mounted on steel pillars up to 27 meters (89 feet) high. As in Sigulda, the start is located in a tower. The track comprises 19 curves (nine right and ten left curves). With a maximum drop of 15 per cent, high speeds were calculated at a maximum of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).
A special feature is the track’s innovative cooling system. Mainly due to Russia’s strict laws, which do not allow ammonia-based cooling system outdoors, an ammonia-CO² cascade system with three cooling circuits was used.
