A luge is small one- or two-person sled on which one sleighs supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners or pulling straps attached to the sled's runners. Luge is also the name of the sport which involves racing with such sleds. It is a competition in which these sleds race against the clock.

History

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 Tobagganing 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) is founded. Luge events were first included in the Olympic Winter Games in 1964.

Rules

The rules are fairly simple in luge. The course is timed, and the athlete must depart from the start handles within a certain time once the track is declared clear.

The athlete is required to arrive at the finish with the luge. Failure to do so results in automatic disqualification. However, athletes are permitted to stop during a run and continue their descent, with a push, after repositioning the sled on the track.

There are weight restrictions on the sleds, as well as restrictions on the design and construction. The 'steels' (the metal blades on the bottom of the runners on which the sled slides) must be within a certain temperature range relative to the air temperature. There are also weight restrictions on the athletes, as well as many other restrictions related to equipment including speedsuits, boots, helmets, gloves, spikes, etc.

Like other timed sports, qualifying determines start position, important during deteriorating track conditions. During World Cup and World Championship events, two runs determine the winners of the Men's Singles, Women's Singles, and Doubles events. At the Winter Olympics, Men and Women Single event are timed over four runs while the Doubles still do two runs. For the World Cup and World Championship Team Event, one run each is performed from the respective country's Doubles, Women's Singles, and Men's Singles with the combined time determining the winner (The team event is under petition for inclusion at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.). The Challenge Cup is a single round elimination event, similar to what you see in Drag Racing or Team pursuit track cycling where the sliders have a qualifying round to get bracketed, then run down the track in respective rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals) until a winner is determined.

Artificial tracks

Artificial 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, St. Moritz). Tracks tend to be very smooth. The athletes ride in an aerodynamic and flat position on the sled, keep their heads low and steer by shifting their body weight as well as pressing in on the runners with their feet. They speed around high banked curves while experiencing a centripetal pull of up to 4G. Men's Singles have their start locations near where the bobsled and skeleton competitors at most tracks while both the Doubles and Women's Singles competition have their starthouse located further down the track.

Natural tracks

Natural Tracks are adapted from existing mountain roads and paths. Artificially banked curves are not permitted. The tracks'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 strap and drag their arms and 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 them are situated in Austria and Italy, others in Germany, Poland, Russia, Slovenija, Canada and the United States.

Events

In a team competition one man, one woman and a doubles form a team. Such teams may consist of athletes of two different nations when each nation cannot field a full team. There is also a relay competition which is still being developed.

Governing body

The sport of luge is governed by the FIL, Fédération International de Luge de Course (see FIL Website). The FIL is located in Berchtesgaden, Germany and is dominated by German representatives.

The following persons have been president of the FIL:

 

Source: Wikipedia