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Equipment:
- Sled (custom built for each athlete)
- Helmet - rounded visor extending all the way under chin to minimize air resistance.
- Suit - brand new suits are typically worn to lessen chance of flapping or tearing. Wt: 8.8 lbs. max.
- Spiked gloves - spikes sewn into fingertips and/or knuckles to provide traction when paddling at start of race.
- Booties – zippered to draw feet into straight position to minimize frontal drag.
Course Layout:
A typical luge course is less than 1 mile in length and drops about 300 to 400 feet in the course of a 1-minute run. The configuration can include straight-aways, left and right turns, downhills (with sometimes a short uphill), and at least 1 “labyrinth”, an S-type curve configuration which consists of 3 or 4 consecutive turns with no straight-aways between them.
Strategy:
- Build momentum by grabbing handles to rock back and forth at start of race to propel onto course and once on sled use hands to paddle the first 10 feet or so.
- Then at start of the downhill, lie down face-up, feet-first in prone position (head lifted only enough to see the course); while remaining both tight and relaxed at the same time, slider uses calf muscles or exerts opposite shoulder pressure to steer through the track.
- Remaining stiff maximizes speed by avoid wobbling; staying somewhat relaxed helps absorbs intense forces during the run.
- Sliders who cross the finish line without their sleds are disqualified, but can still count if they carry their sleds after being thrown off.
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