magnetic induction floods with three fixtures per pole. This would be considered particularly well illuminated and can be used for other activities if recommissioned. If upgrading from metal halide or high-pressure sodium, a color temperature above 4,000K should be used for the course, while any color enhancement should be supplemental. This is because visual acuity degrades in monochromatic (single color) lighting. Thus, a combination of low-glare Dark Sky compliant magnetic induction could illuminate lanes while multi-color LEDs can be added for special effects. If the area is also intended for other applications like using narrow lanes for race training or free-style practice, lighting should be increased to meet such requirements. HALFPIPES Halfpipes are increasingly popular, particularly as a nighttime activity. Two high-profile halfpipe projects speak to complexities. The 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan used metal halide floodlights originally designed for field and stadium lighting to illuminate the first halfpipe. Since LEDs were not available at the time, metal halide represented the only lighting option. As the event evolved, we see the challenge was increased. From 1998 to the Sochi 2014 Olympics, halfpipe dimensions expanded from an 11.5 foot height – 49 foot width – 394 foot length to almost twice the height at 22 feet, a 66 foot width, and 591 foot length. In all instances, the challenge is to provide uniform light distribution without excessive glare that could blind athletes in the air or on landing.
The Sochi halfpipe competition was marked by a disappointing performance by Shaun White, considered the best and anticipated to be the gold medalists. Sochi illuminated the halfpipe using high- intensity LEDs that were thought to exhibit a high frequency flicker, causing “strobe effect.” Shaun White claimed he was having difficulty resolving his landings as did several other
competitors. Retrospectively, visual problems athletes experienced may have been due to lighting. This exemplifies the critical nature of halfpipe lighting as performances become more complex with increasingly challenging terrain. Nagano used fourteen 15-meter
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