Lillehammer, Norway
Nestled in the hills 15 kilometers outside of Lillehammer lies the Olympic Bobsled and Toboggan run. It’s the only bobsled and luge track in Scandinavia, and offers both winter and summer activities for pros and visitors, just a short bus or taxi ride from Lillehammer. The venue has hosted international competitions from the 1994 Winter Olympics to the 2016 Youth Olympics. It’s open for visitors who are brave enough to speed downhill.
On the February day we visited, athletes from 14 nations converged for the 2025 Bobsled World Cup. With clear skies and a temperature hovering between 6 – 10 degrees F, teams for both men and women battled to be the fastest to the bottom of the course. It takes courage to hold on for those 50+ seconds hurtling through curves at 5 times normal gravitational forces on a frozen tube of water.
Pre-Race
Athletes and sleds all have their own pre-race routines to get ready for the speed. The sleds use protective fixtures around the blades for transport up the hill to the start. The four-man bobsled competitors (who all look like Mr. Incredible up close) warm up with track and field exercises to prep for the 5 second sprint before hopping in their sled.
Race crews sweep the icy track to keep the start line and rail lines clean from the sprinters ice shards.
Race Start
It’s all a race against the clock. Who can be the fastest off the line? Who is most efficient at entering the sled? And who can run the cleanest line down the track?
With a quick rock of the sled at the start line, their quads begin driving the push into an all-out sprint and the utter madness ensues!
One by one, each of the four person crew will find their way into the sled, like a choreographed dance at high speed.
The Descent
With one set of eyes peeking over the edge of the sled on the track, the rest of the team is tucked inside, bracing through each curve. This track, with its 16 curves, 1,365 meter length, and average gradient of 8.37%, sends athletes down the course at a max speed of 128 KM / hour (80 mph).
The fully covered track winds its way around the rocky hill and down through the forest. The path allows spectators to walk alongside almost the entire course.
You can hear the sleds rocketing down the course, speeding from turn to turn and passing you in an instant.
Along the path there are multiple areas to keep spectators warm, whether outside to warm their hands or inside with a cozy drink.
With two-thirds of the course complete, the final phase for bobsled athletes at the bottom of the course is off in the distance. The course circles back to finish uphill, crossing over the track they just passed and crossing the finish line to stop the clock.
Coming through the final curves approaching the finish line.
The Finish
The official end for the clock! If you made it here, congratulations on keeping your sled upright and your team intact.
After crossing the finish line, it takes a mix of forces to bring this flying wedge to a stop.
Harnessing the powers of both an uphill finish and braking, teams utilize the full runout to end their momentum. The ruts in the snow and snow cloud show that the brakes are engaged.
Apres
Are you ready to climb in and test your steady hand for steering while traveling at highway speed? When not hosting competitions, anyone can take guided rides on the Olympic track. This is on my list for my next visit to Lillehammer. When we visited for the World Championships, we were just too cold to try it out.
You will have a whole new appreciation for winter Olympic sports after viewing the competitions in person. This intrepid team was bundled in multiple layers and still required trips to the onsite warming hut to stave off the chill.
Planning Resources
| Location | Oslo Airport (OSL) to Lillehammer Central Station via Train: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Visitor Resources | Lillehammer Tourist Information: https://en.lillehammer.com Norway Tourist Information https://www.visitnorway.com |
| Activities | Bobsledding https://en.lillehammer.com/things-to-do/lillehammer-olympic-bob-and-luge-track-p631363 Olympic Park Bobsled Booking https://olympiaparken.no/en/aktiviteter/taxibob/ Viator – Lillehammer Walking Tour: Link |
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