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Luge A luge /ˈluːʒ/ is a small one- or two-person
sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners
with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds
weigh 21–25 kilograms for singles and 25–30 kilograms for doubles. Luge is also the name
of an Olympic sport. Lugers can reach speeds of 140 km per hour . Manuel Pfister of Austria,
reached a top speed of 154 km per hour on the track in Whistler, Canada prior to the
2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Lugers compete against a timer and are timed to a thousandth
of a second, making luge one of the most precisely timed sports in the world. The first recorded
use of the term "luge" is 1905, from the Savoy/Swiss dialect of French "luge" meaning "small coasting
sled", and is possibly from a Gaulish word with the same root as English sled.
History Though the sport of luge is relatively new,
sled racing is one of the oldest winter sports. The practical use of sleds is ancient and
widespread. The first recorded sled races took place in Norway sometime during the 15th
century. The sport of luge, like the skeleton and the bobsleigh, originated in the health-spa
town of St Moritz, Switzerland, in the mid-to-late 19th century, through the endeavours of hotel
entrepreneur Caspar Badrutt. Badrutt successfully sold the idea of winter resorting, as well
as rooms with food, drink, and activities. His more adventurous English guests began
adapting delivery boys' sleds for recreation, which led to collisions with pedestrians as
they sped down the lanes and alleys of the village.
The first organized meeting of the sport took place in 1883 in Switzerland. In 1913, the
Internationale Schlittensportverband or International Sled Sports Federation was founded in Dresden,
Germany. This body governed the sport until 1935, when it was incorporated in the Fédération
Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT, International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing
Federation). After it had been decided that luge would replace the sport of skeleton at
the Olympic Games, the first World Championships in the sport were held in 1955 in Oslo (Norway).
In 1957, the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL, International Luge Federation)
was founded. Luge events were first included in the Olympic Winter Games in 1964.
Americans were slow to adopt the sport of luge. The first luge run in North America
was built at Lolo Hot Springs, Montana in 1965. Although the United States competed
in every Olympic luge event from 1964 through 1976, it was not until 1979 that the United
States Luge Association was founded. The first artificial American track was completed in
that year for use in the 1980 XIII Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, New York. Since
that time the United States luge program has greatly improved. A second artificial track
was constructed near Park City, Utah for the 2002 XIX Olympic Winter Games at Salt Lake
City. Artificial tracks
Artificial luge tracks have specially-designed and -constructed banked curves plus walled-in
straights. Most tracks are artificially refrigerated, but artificial tracks without artificial cooling
also exist (for example, in St. Moritz). Tracks tend to be very smooth.
The athletes ride in a flat, aerodynamic position on the sled, keeping their heads low to minimize
air resistance. They steer the sled mainly with their calves by applying pressure on
the runners--right calf to turn left, left calf to turn right. It takes a precise mix
of shifting body weight, applying pressure with calves and rolling the shoulders. There
are also handles for minor adjustments. A successful luger maintains complete concentration
and relaxation on the sled while traveling at high speeds. Most lugers "visualize" the
course in their minds before sliding. Fastest times result from following the perfect "line"
down the track. Any slight error, such as a brush of the wall, costs time. Track conditions
are also important. Softer ice tends to slow speeds, while harder ice tends to lead to
faster times. Lugers race at speeds averaging 120–145 km/h (75–90 mph) around high
banked curves while experiencing a centripetal acceleration of up to 5g. Men's Singles have
their start locations near where the bobsled and skeleton competitors start at most tracks,
while both the Doubles and Women's Singles competition have their starthouse located
further down the track. Artificial track luge is the fastest and most agile sledding sport.
Natural track luge Natural tracks are adapted from existing mountain
roads and paths. Artificially banked curves are not permitted. The track's surface must
be horizontal. They are naturally iced. The use of artificial refrigeration is forbidden.
Tracks can get rough from the braking and steering action. Athletes use a steering rein
and drag their hands and use their legs in order to drive around the tight flat corners.
Braking is often required in front of curves and is accomplished by the use of spikes built
on the bottom of the shoes. Most of the tracks are situated in Austria
and Italy, with others in Germany, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Canada, and the United States.
The Upper Peninsula Luge Club in Negaunee, Michigan, is home to one of only five lighted
natural track luge runs in the world, and the only natural track in the United States.
The half-mile (0.8 km) track features 29 curves along its 88-meter (289 ft) vertical
drop. The hill hosts international luge events and offers luge instruction to the public
during the winter months. World championships have been held since 1979 while European championships
have been held since 1970. Risks
As with many extreme sports, luging is not without its risks. Though most injuries involve
bumps, bruises, broken bones and concussions, fatalities do occasionally occur. Georgian
luger Nodar Kumaritashvili suffered a fatal crash during his final practice run for the
2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Hours later, the International
Luge Federation concluded that the accident was caused by a steering error and not a track
error; nevertheless, changes to the track were made before the re-opening. Kumaritashvili
was the fourth athlete to die while in preparation for a Winter Olympics competition, following
speed skier Nicolas Bochatay, 27, who died while preparing for the Albertville 1992 games,
British luger Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypeski and skier Ross Milne, 19, who both died in the
run-up to the Innsbruck 1964 games. Training
The sport of luge requires an athlete to balance mental and physical fitness. To become an
elite luger a competitor must begin training at an early age and spend decades honing their
skills. Physically, a luger must have strong neck, upper body, abdominal, and thigh muscles.
Strength training is essential to withstand the extreme G-forces of tight turns at high
speeds. Since lugers have very little protection other than a visor and helmet, they must be
able to endure the physical pounding administered by the track when mistakes are made. Mentally
a luger must maintain total focus as they steer their sled through more than a kilometer
of curves and straights at high speed. Dozens of subtle movements and weight shifts are
required to find the perfect line down the track. Consistency is essential for success.
Sled maintenance is also an important element for success. Serious lugers spend hours meticulously
sanding their "steels," and making other important adjustments and repairs to their sleds. No
luger can possibly achieve elite status without working closely with an experienced coaching
staff, implementing suggestions and fine tuning technique. Other lugers will often give tips
that can improve a slider's ability to find the "sweet spot" on the track. Though luge
is a winter sport, it requires daily, year-round training.
Events There are four luge disciplines.
Men's singles Doubles (mixed event)
Women's singles Team Relay (Olympic discipline starting in
2014) These are further broken into several age
classes which include novice (ages 7–10), youth (ages 11–14), junior (ages 15–20),
and general (ages 21 and older). Older competitors may enjoy the sport in masters (age 30–50),
and senior masters (age 51+) classes. In a team relay competition one man, one woman
and a doubles pair form a team. A touchpad at the bottom of the run is touched by a competitor
signaling a teammate at the top of the run to start.
Rules and procedures for races are very precise. Prior to a race the athlete must be weighed.
This is to determine if the athlete is entitled to carry extra weight on their body while
sliding. Men may use additional weight amounting to 75% of the difference between body weight
and a base weight of 90 kg. Women may use additional weight amounting to 50% of the
difference between body weight and a base weight of 70 kg. Doubles athletes may use
additional weight amounting to 50% of the difference between body weight and a base
weight of 90 kg. Additional weight is not allowed if the body weight of the front person
and back person together exceeds 180 kg. If one of the partners weighs more than 90 kg,
the weight exceeding the 90 kg mark is added to the lighter partner. If there should still
be a difference between the partner’s weight and the 90 kg mark, the difference can be
compensated according to an official weight table. A drawing is held to determine start
order for the race. Athletes are assigned a number which is displayed on a bib. During
major national and international events, Men's singles consists of four runs. Women's singles
and doubles competitions consist of two runs. The cumulative time of all runs is used to
determine finish order. In all three events, the start order after the first run is determined
by the outcome of the previous run, with the last-place slider sliding first, the next-to-last
place slider sliding second, and so forth, with the leader of the previous run sliding
last. Between runs athletes are randomly selected for additional weight checks. Before each
run the athlete and his or her sled are weighed at the start ramp. The temperature of the
sled's steel blades is checked and may not be more than 5°C above that of a previously
established control temperature. Once an athlete is on their sled they are audibly notified
that the track is clear. At this point a tone sounds and the athlete has thirty seconds
to begin their run. A run becomes official when an athlete and their sled, in contact
with one another, crosses the finish line. If an athlete and sled are not within contact
of one another the athlete is disqualified from further competition. Disqualifications
may also take place for any violation of rules and regulations. Certain disqualifications
may be appealed. Governing body
The sport of luge is governed by the FIL, Fédération International de Luge de Course.
The FIL is located in Berchtesgaden, Germany and includes 53 member nations. It is traditionally
dominated by German representatives, however. The following persons have been president
of the FIL: Bert Isatitsch, Austria (1957–1994)
Josef Fendt, Germany (1994–current) Olympic Medal table
Men's singles Current Olympic champion: Germany (GER)
Russia (RUS) Italy (ITA) Doubles
Current Olympic champion: Germany (GER) Austria (AUT) Latvia (LAT)
Women's singles Current Olympic champion: Germany (GER)
Germany (GER) United States (USA) Team relay
Current Olympic champion: Germany (GER) Russia (RUS) Latvia (LAT)
Total Olympic Ranking (2014) Fatal Accidents