Luge

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.

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.

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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, booties, helmets, gloves, spikes, etc.

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Like other timed sports, qualifying determines start position, important during deteriorating track conditions. Overall time is an aggregate of two or more runs down the course.

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