[Burgey]

So many sports at the Winter Olympics are utterly alien to me, because of our climate here I just don't follow them. Love the downhill and the ski jumping, but it's really an education to see many of these sports. Has given us a turn of phrase in our lexicon though - "Doing a Bradbury".

And can I just ask some guys who might understand...

The luge and the skeleton. Please explain.

Now I don't want to speak poorly of the sports when this unfortunate fellow has just died, but honestly, I mean, who stands there and says "Hmm, a steep track of solid ice - reckon I'll grab my esky lid and head down there"? Seriously, absolutely insane. Why do they need those poxy X Games that skateboard kids go to after not washing for a month, when they have the luge and the skeleton?

And look, I'm a parent right. How the **** can any sane parent say to their kid "Sure honey, you want to do 150 ks head first down solid, steep ice with nothing around you to protect you? Yeah, what time's training, I'll drive you over". GAGF. I saw this girl from the Canadian skeleton team talking about it this morning - I mean this girl was stunning, drop dead gorgeous. Also seemed pretty bright, so she clearly hasn't had a bad crash yet. I'm just sitting here thinking "No way, how the **** did her old man let her do that? That's crazy".

So, what am I missing here? And please, not the "It's a rush" thing OK. Of course it's a rush, but so are lots of things that aren't suicidal. I seriously would like some answers.