What is Olympic Luge?

In the singles, each competitor has four runs down the track.

The four times are then added together and the best overall time wins.

LUGE FACTS
Events: Men and women's singles, mixed doubles
Holders:
Men - Armin Zoeggeler (It)
Women - Sylke Otto (Ger)
Doubles - Andreas Linger/Wolfgang Linger (Aut)
The first luge competition was held at Davos in 1883. The first World Championships were staged in Oslo in 1955
The four-run format - played out over a two-day period - is unique to the Olympics.

It is designed to reward consistency, endurance and the ability to handle pressure.

In the doubles, the first slider pushes off the ramp using the handles and the second slider holds on to straps linking him to his team-mate in front.

Each team has two runs and the fastest overall time wins.

There are no rules barring women from competing in the doubles, but traditionally all-male teams have competed.

The competitor lies on a pod made of moulded fibreglass, which is specially designed to match the contours of the slider.

The pod sits on two metal runners called steels which curve upwards.

These are attached to kufens at the front which steer the pod. Kufens and steels are longer on the doubles luge.

There are no brakes on the luge. To slow down, the slider drags their feet along the ice, and grips the kufens.

All sled pods can have a maximum thickness of 120mm and a maximum width of 550mm. The pod cannot extend beyond the athlete's shoulders or knees.

The sled cannot weigh more than 23kg for a singles sled and 27kg for a doubles sled.

.

2010 Winter Olympics Mascot Family Collectible Pin

.

Vancouver 2010 Olympics Mascots Pacific Coliseum Official Vancouver 2010 Pin

  .

2010 Winter Olympics 5 Rings Collectible Pin

Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton (Winter Olympic Sports) [Paperback]

The Russian National Sliding Centre is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track that will be located in Rzhanaya Polyana, Russia, located 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Sochi. Located in the Western Caucasus, this venue will host the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events for the 2014 Winter Olympics.