Bobsled is pretty familiar to most of us. If you didn’t know about it before the Jamaican bobsled team, the movie Cool Runnings probably gave you at least a bit of an introduction. The sport involves steering a bullet-like bobsled down a curved mountain track.

The driver steers the sled with ropes connected to polished steel runners. Most drivers wear gloves; some steer bare-handed to have a better feel for the ropes. The crew members can help with the steering by shifting their weight. Since they can’t see during a run, they must learn the timing of each course.

The two- or four-man crews push-start the sled before jumping in. The crewman in front (called the driver) steers the sled, and the man in the back is the brakeman. On the four-man team, the other two are called side-push men. Because gravity and the push start are the only things that power the sled, a good push start is critical.

In the Olympics, you can look for the men on teams of four and two. Women’s bobsledding was added in the 2002 Olympics, and will be back in Turin with the two man (or woman, I guess, in this case) bobsled.

Bobsleds reach speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Runs take less than a minute. When braking, the crew feels five times the force of gravity.

There are maximum weight regulations for the sleds, including the crew. If a sled weighs in under the weight requirement, they can add weights. It is illegal for the sleds to be heated, and they actually take the sled’s temperature before each run. There is also no lubrication allowed.

If you want a firsthand look at what bobsledding is all about, take a look at this game. I’ve decided I definitely shouldn’t plan on a career in bobsledding after flying off the track several times. Even if you’re great at the game, you should let your sled fly off the track at least once, just to hear the sledders yell “Oh No!”