Olympic Oddities - Rules

With the Olympics in Tokyo only a few months away, I thought it would be interesting to look at some odd rules that the winter games have put in place over the years.

Snowboarding

"Big Air" - the new snowboarding competition has been added which allows boarders to do one big air jump with tricks. The rules on it however are very odd. The boarders get three tries to do their tricks but each time they have to spin in the opposite directions for the tricks to count so if you start with a backspin better make sure your second run is a front spin or else no points for your second run.

Ski Jump

When you land, you can't touch the ground with your hands or else your jump won't count!

Hockey

Sticks can only have a maximum curve of 1.5 cm.

Figure Skating

You cannot do a backflip since it's illegal as you land on two feet instead of one.

Curling

The "spirit of curling" is put into place when a stone breaks. This rule allows for a replacement stone to be put in the spot of where the original stone "should" have ended up. If both teams can't decide then they get to go again.

Bobsled

Runners (the blades under the sled) have to be a certain degree. If they are not within 4 degrees of it then they are disqualified for being too hot or too cold.

Luge

Men have to be a minimum of 198 lbs, 165 lbs for women to participate in the luge. If you are too light then you are allowed to strap weights to yourself to hit these minimum targets.

Skelton

You have to cross the finish line ontop of your sled but you can get off of it and push it or move it on the way down.