VOA标准英语2010年-US Luge Racers Martin and Grimmette Cl

Grimmette is taller and heavier that Martin, but Brian drives the sled - with Grimmette lying on top of him.  The arrangement calls for a closeness of thought that would challenge even the best co-workers.  It's a good thing they are friends as well.  Grimmette says that being the larger of the two sliders serves a specific purpose.

"The bigger guy always goes on top for two reasons: one, aerodynamically I completely cover Brian so the air flow is nice and smooth over our bodies as we go down the track," said Mark Grimmette. "And, two if Brian was on top and I was on the bottom we'd need a much bigger sled."

This arrangement leaves Martin blind, a position that requires the utmost communication before racing¹.  Martin told VOA Sports that he and Grimmette prepare for their race mentally before they ever get on the sled, and they have to do it quickly because there is not much time to argue strategy.

"It's all kind of pre-gaming it, and saying 'this is what I think is happening on the sled; this is what we need to change on the sled," he said. "We need to do X, Y, and Z at this point.'  And you go down the run and you try X, Y, and Z.  That kind of communication is vital both on and off the sled and that's what makes good people good.

Martin says any communication has to come off the track, because the sled is moving so fast that there is not time to say what needs to change before the opportunity is lost. 

The two men came from different backgrounds - Brian Martin is from Palo Alto, California, and Grimmette is from Muskegon, Michigan.  But they work so well together that their names - Brian and Mark - are almost like one name in luge circles.  Martin says they share hobbies off the ice as well - and even lived together in Lake Placid² while his house was under construction.  Martin told VOA sports that he worked on Grimmette's house instead of paying rent.

"We re-landscaped the front yard, we painted the deck," said Brian Martin. "It's fun.  We tore down a wall at his place.  He helped me a lot last year at my place.  I had to put on a new deck because the deck that I had was a bit spongy and I was afraid I was going to have some sort of party and the whole deck was going to come down.  It's always been that way, sort of 'hey, can you come over and give me a hand doing this?'"

Grimmette also relies on Martin because of his back injury.  In 2003 the American herniated a disc in his back and the injury has hindered³ his performance.  But Grimmette says he and Martin have found ways around his injury especially at the start of a race.

"When my back is feeling good, we try to get it back to where we normally would be during a start," he said. "Sometimes I just have to say 'Brian, I need to knock it down a couple notches⁴ today; let's just take it easy and just roll off instead of actually do a [push] start.'  We pick events now where I can push it [go all out] and where I can't push it."

Another passion the two sliders share is wake surfing - riding a surfboard in the wake of a 1980s vintage water ski boat they converted⁵ and dubbed⁶ "the Ship of Fools."  Former USA slider and current team spokesman⁷ Gordy Sheer⁸ told VOA that the Ship of Fools provides Grimmette, Martin - and him - with some warm-weather relaxation⁹ and excitement.

"Wake surfing, for those who don't know, is basically riding a surf board behind a boat and creating an endless wave, and surfing behind that wave without being pulled in any way behind the boat," said Gordy Sheer. "It's really a nice way to enjoy a relaxing day on the lake without all the injuries that could be associated with water skiing."

The two sliders will need to stay relaxed as they compete on the Vancouver track - widely regarded as a very tough run that allows little room for mistakes.  But team spokesman Gordy Sheer says if anyone can negotiate¹⁰ the Whistler Olympic track, Grimmette and Martin can.

"Mark and Brian are just two really hard working guys," said Sheer. "They are in the sport for all the right reasons.  They are there because they love it.  And that's really admirable, that is something you like to see in athletes today."

Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette have not been as successful in the World Cup standings this season as they would have liked.  The dominant¹¹ German team of Andre Florschütz and Torsten Wustlich, as well as top sliders from Italy and Austria will challenge the Americans' Olympic dreams.  But the two friends have a confidence that despite injury, treacherous¹² tracks and stiff¹³ competition, they can bring home a gold from Vancouver.

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。

3 hindered   

阻碍，妨碍( hinder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• That hindered him from going further. 那使他不能继续向前。
• The crowd hindered him from leaving. 人群挡着他，使他走不开。

4 notches   

n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级

参考例句：

• The Indians cut notches on a stick to keep count of numbers. 印第安人在棒上刻V形凹痕用来计数。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They cut notches in the handle of their pistol for each man they shot. 他们每杀一个人就在枪托上刻下一个V形记号。 来自辞典例句

5 converted   

adj.更换信仰的，修改的v.（使）转变( convert的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）转化；皈依；改变（信仰）

参考例句：

• The hotel is going to be converted into a nursing home. 那家旅馆将被改建成私人疗养院。
• He's living in a converted loft in lower Manhattan. 他住在下曼哈顿的一间改建的阁楼里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

8 sheer   

adj.绝对的，全然的，峻峭的；v.躲开，躲避，使...避开； adv.完全，全然，峻峭

参考例句：

• He achieved his aim by sheer strength of will.他纯粹靠意志力达到了目的。
• I guess It'sheer waste of time arguing about it.看来争论这件事纯粹是浪费时间。

9 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

10 negotiate   

v.洽谈，协商，谈判，顺利通过，成功越过

参考例句：

• I'll negotiate with their coach on the date of the match.我将与他们的教练磋商比赛的日期问题。
• I managed to negotiate successfully with the authorities.我设法同当局进行了成功的协商。

11 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

12 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

13 stiff   

adj.严厉的，激烈的，硬的，僵直的，不灵活的

参考例句：

• There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。
• You have to push on the handle to turn it,becanse it's very stiff.手柄很不灵活，你必须用力推才能转动它。