Luge
Fastest sliding sport, face-up and feet-first on a small sled.
Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which the rider lies supine (face up) and travels feet first. It is also the name of an Olympic sport that employs that sled and technique. The sport originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in the mid-to-late 19th century through the efforts of hotel entrepreneur Caspar Badrutt.
- Sled weight (singles)
- 21–25 kg (46–55 lb)
Lore & Background
The practical use of sleds is ancient and widespread, with the first recorded sled races taking place in Norway during the 15th century. The sport of luge, like skeleton and 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 sold the idea of winter resorting, and his adventurous English guests began adapting delivery boys' sleds for recreation, leading to collisions with pedestrians.
Reader's Guide
The sport is one of the most precisely timed in the world, to one millisecond on artificial tracks. Luge is organized separately from skeleton and bobsleigh by the International Luge Federation (FIL). The sport has five disciplines: men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles, and team relay. Natural track luge uses adapted mountain roads and paths, with tracks in Austria, Italy, and other countries; the only natural luge track iced for competition in the United States is the Upper Peninsula Luge Club in Negaunee, Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is luge?
Luge is a winter sliding sport in which one or two athletes ride a small sled lying on their backs with their feet pointing forward. It is the fastest of the three Olympic sliding disciplines alongside skeleton and bobsleigh.
How does luge differ from skeleton and bobsleigh?
In luge the rider lies face-up and travels feet-first on a small sled, whereas skeleton athletes go head-first on a flat board and bobsleigh crews sit inside a larger enclosed vehicle. This supine, feet-first position is the defining distinction that sets luge apart from the other two sliding events.
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