Talk:Luge

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[edit] Questions

I don't know where this world championship was held, but Oslo is in Norway. Habj 09:15 May 1, 2003 (UTC)

An obvious but answered question is: how can the luge competitor get down the track faster, simply by using steering? To the untrained eye it appears that little skill or control is required, as the track enforces changes of direction no matter what you do. 195.188.152.12 09:30, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

The track is still somewhat wide, and by optimizing and timing your turns, you can reduce the distance traveled. You can also reduce wind resistance by keeping your head down - which means you aren't looking where you are going. Both help your times. --Mr. Vernon 04:03, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
True. If you were to just push a big steel ball down the track and time it, it would take much longer than an expert slider. It's like any other race...just squeeze an inch here, don't 'chicken' there...160.84.253.241
But if you lie on your back, how can you see the track? And if you can't see the track, how do you know which way to steer? And if you don't know which way to steer, in what way is there any skill involved? I'm not trying to be insulting; these questions have bothered me for many years. --Keeves 01:26, 26 February 2006 (UTC)
I just assume that they know the track by heart before the run. --Bjarki 12:23, 26 February 2006 (UTC)
I thought of that, Bjarki, but it presumes that either the tracks are standardized, or that the competitors can practice extensively on the same track that they'll compete on. Does anyone know if either of these is true? --Keeves 14:31, 26 February 2006 (UTC)
I've never partaken in this fascinating pastime myself — I've got a whole shedful of starved lions just waiting to have my head shoved into their salivating mouths first — but as I remember it being explained on the BBC, the idea is to keep the lowest line possible through the turns. If you just slide, you'll swing way high on the turns, which slows you down. So you have to keep to a low line; but you have to do it without hard steering. It's like skiers, who want to "carve" turns rather than forcing them and skidding, which costs speed. So the trick is to steer a "natural" but low line, keeping to it with minimal force and maximum finesse.
And yes, they do memorise the layout of the individual track, with the help of practice runs — the less confident ones look, which costs them drag, but the experts go from memory. — Johan the Ghost seance 13:49, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stopping?

The article says "However, athletes are permitted to stop during a run and continue their descent, with a push, after repositioning the sled on the track." From the little I've seen at luge, stopping wouldn't be an option. Could someone clarify what this means? Does it mean, for example, that if someone fell off, they could then get back on and finish the race? ---You are correct Sir with this statement Sir.

[edit] History

How did the Luge originate? Was it practiced pre-1883? Any of this sort of info would be great - Gobeirne 09:05, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

  • another question: Have there EVER been any women who have competed in the doubles events? World Championships? World Cups? Anywhere??

[edit] Recent edits

The doubles event is technically open for women. Check the offical rules at the FIL website. The bobsled run at Whistler is being constructed for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Perakhantu 08:40, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Another clear reference is from the IOC, where the official programme for Turin shows luge as having 1 men's event, 1 women's event, and 1 mixed event. Similarly, the results database only returns results for luge doubles if you select "Mixed". Andrwsc 20:23, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fatal accidents

This sounds like a very dangerous sport. How about a historical section on fatal accidents? --Smithfarm 14:12, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Luge 2006.gif

Image:Luge 2006.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 04:34, 6 June 2007 (UTC)