Enhanced Safety in Bobsleigh: Ducking and Holding On Is Not Enough

Quantum Leap for Safety in Bobsleigh

"Bobsleigh is the Formula 1 of winter sports, and as the fastest winter sport, the dangers remain very real. While significant strides have been made in track safety over recent years, the HIP and PASS systems will substantially enhance athlete safety in bobsleigh," said Thomas Schwab, CEO of the BSD. "Both solutions represent a quantum leap in bobsleigh safety. They were developed in collaboration with the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) and are part of a comprehensive safety concept covering head protection, preventing athletes from being thrown out during a crash, and improving protective clothing."

What's Next?

Both concepts will soon be discussed with the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) sports and materials commissions. It is essential that the introduced solutions are designed with the experts and equipment manufacturers so that adapting to different bobsleigh models can be smoothly and seamlessly implemented. "The goal would be for both systems to be operational by mid-2028 at the latest," said Thomas Schwab.

Safety of Bobsleigh Athletes After a Crash

The Allianz Center for Technology (AZT), with support from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), analyzed the individual positions in the bobsleigh as part of the project. It found that the two front athletes are primarily at risk from head impact, while the two rear athletes face a high risk of being ejected from the bobsleigh in the event of a crash.

HIP System for Better Head Protection

The open design of the bobsleigh, similar to a convertible with a safety zone without a roof structure created by the windshield frame and rear roll bar, requires a front and rear structure to keep forces away from the athletes. The new safety cell in the bobsleigh aims to prevent direct impacts on occupants. The head, in particular, is inadequately protected in current crash scenarios. To this end, the HIP (Head Impact Protection) was developed for the front position to protect the driver’s head. The extension of this protection for pushers will be achieved in a subsequent step by raising the push handles at the rear, increasing safe space for all occupants. "For head protection, it was crucial that a structural integration into existing bobsleighs is easily feasible, ensuring implementation for all international teams. Therefore, a largely standardized design is necessary. Additionally, the mobility of athletes during the critical entry phase should not be hindered," said Christian Sahr, Head of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT).

This development work is being carried out by the Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES) in Berlin, which traditionally manufactures bobsleighs for the BSD and can effectively integrate insights into the structural requirements for the bobsleigh.

PASS Harness Systems Protect Athletes in Positions 3 and 4

Position 4 in the bobsleigh, due to its unfavorable posture under these atypical loads, is particularly endangered in the event of a crash. The holistic safety concept by BSD and Allianz aims primarily to secure the two rear athletes in the sled. The occupant protection was developed at AZT. Position 4, occupied by the brakeman, is the most vulnerable as he can only maintain his hold far from his center of gravity. He may be lifted out of the bobsleigh during a crash. To prevent this, securing close to the center of gravity is necessary. "We have tested several concepts on the Altenberg ice track with Team Illmann. The best solution for the brakeman proved to be a harness system where the athlete jumps into an already opened loop, which then automatically wraps around his pelvis. In the event of a crash, the athlete can thus remain in the sled, avoiding ice contact and related injuries, such as spinal damage or burns from scraping on ice at high speeds," said Markus Beischl, engineer for sports equipment and materials at the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT).

"We tested a system where the brakeman does nothing, and the harness attaches itself autonomously without intervention. The brakeman does not have to actively buckle up or change his seating position. This variant can be easily integrated into any sled, disrupts the normal start procedure minimally, and provides the security to keep the brakeman in position during a crash," said bobsleigh pilot Maximilian Illmann.

Additionally, it is being tested whether an extra wrist restraint can keep the brakeman’s upper body within the safety cell in the case of unconsciousness.

Securing the athlete in Position 3 is more challenging due to the tighter space. AZT has developed a connection using a pelvis-worn harness attached to an automatic locking system mounted to the sled structure behind the athlete. The concept is already being trialed with the athletes.

The athlete in position 2 is protected by the HIP system and has a very low risk of being ejected from the sled due to his seating position. The pilot is adequately secured from falling out of the sled due to his seating position.

Allianz is the Official Insurer for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement

Through its partnership with the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation, Allianz expands its commitment to elite and grassroots sports. Allianz is a strategic partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement and contributed to the successful hosting of Paris 2024. Allianz will also closely support the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. For many years, Allianz has been a partner of FC Bayern and a sponsor for both the men’s and women’s teams. Beyond these global partnerships, Allianz supports numerous local clubs in Germany, from Alba Berlin Women’s Basketball to the Mannheim Hockey Club, placing a special focus on youth development. Sport and exercise among young people are also encouraged through the MoveNow initiative.

A detailed evaluation of the measurement results and more information on the Allianz Safety Sled can be found at https://allianz.com/safety-sled.

We would be happy to provide you with footage material on the Allianz Safety Sled and specifically on HIP and PASS. Please feel free to contact us.

Press Contact:

Allianz Suisse
Nadine Schumann, Media Spokesperson
press@allianz.ch, Tel. 058 358 84 14

Allianz Versicherungs-AG
Christian Weishuber, Head of External Communications
christian.weishuber@allianz.de, Tel. +49 (0)172 - 8448464

BSD
Lena Sauren
l.sauren@bsd-portal.de, Tel. +49 (0)151-14102515

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Allianz Suisse / Photographer: FES Simon Morgenstern