Sports Glossaries
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artificial track

A refrigerated track.

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base weight

A maximum weight to be carried by the luge slider, typically 75 kilograms for women's singles and 90 kilograms for men's singles. Athletes are allowed to wear additional weight, up to 75% of the difference between the body weight recorded at weigh-in and the base weight.

block

The portion of the start when an athlete puts the sled into a forward rock; followed by compression.

bootie

A racing shoe for lugers that has a smooth, rounded bottom.

box

A hollowed out section of the kufens that holds the gummies and bridge legs.

bridge

A section of the sled that connects the kufens and carries the pod. Each sled has a front bridge and a rear bridge.

bridge bolts

Bolts that pass through the boxes to hold the bridges to the kufens.

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clear

Free of obstacles; the track must be clear before the slider is allowed to start a run.

compression

The portion of the start when an athlete puts the sled into a rearward motion; followed by the pull.

control steel

A steel instrument mounted along the track to measure the control temperature.

control temperature

A reference temperature, taken by the control steel. The temperature of each sled's steels is compared to the control temperature to ensure that the steels have not been illegally heated.

crank

To steer extremely hard.

crash

To hit the track's wall or go off the track entirel.

cufin

See kufen.

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diamond paste

A paste, containing microscopic diamond particles, that's used to polish the steels.

dnf

Abbreviation for "did not finish." It indicates that an athlete started the race but didn't complete the required number of runs, usually because of a crash.

dns

Abbreviation for "did not start." It indicates that an athlete entered the race but withdrew before the first runs.

draw

The random selection of names to determine the initial start order for a race.

drive

To control the sled in its run down the course.

dsq

Abbreviation for "disqualified." It indicates that an athlete entered the race but was disqualified for a rule violation.

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expansion joint

A small space separated sections of track to allow expansion or contraction because of temperature changes.

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face shield

See visor.

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g-forces

Gravitational forces exerted on the sled and the slider by acceleration, deceleration, and changes in direction. These forces typically reach as high as 3 gs, where g represents the force of normal gravity, and can approach 5 gs on some runs.

gummy

One of four cylindrical rubber pieces that hold the bridge legs, allowing the legs to move up and down to give the sled flexibility.

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handle

One of two metal grips, located on each side of the sled inside the pod. The handles are used to push the sled during the start and sometimes for steering during the run.

handle steer

To steer the sled by pushing or pulling on the handles.

hook steer

To steer the sled by hooking a toe under a kufen and lifting it. The sleed will tend to turn in that direction.

horn

The curved area at the front of a kufen.

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kreisel

A turn in which the track crosses back upon itself. From the German for "circle."

kufen

One of the sled's runners, from the German. Also spelled cufin.

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labyrinth

A series of three or more curves that follow in rapid sequence, with no intervening straightaways.

line

The path followed by the sled down the track.

loop

A time-wasting line that dips in the middle of a curve and rises near the exit, usually caused by the sled's being allowed to climb too high in the early portion of the curve. As a verb, to follow sich a line.

lose one's head

To have the head snap back because of high g-forces in a curve.

luge

A sled specially designed and built for racing. It rides on runners called steels, attached to two kufens, which are connected by the bridges. The slider rides in a pod that's suspended from the bridges. (French for "sled.")

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mind run

A visualization technique in which the slider imagines a luge run in real time and practices all the actions necessary to get down the course in the shortest possible time.

mouth guard

A soft piece of rubber or plastic worn by some sliders to reduce vibration of the jaw and chattering of the teeth.

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neck strap

A strap attaching the helmet to the body or legs to help the slider support the head against high g-forces while going through curves.

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omega curve

A series of three curves that alternate in direction, in which the second curve is much longer than the first and third. So called because it resembles the Greek letter omega.

orthoplast

A moldable plastic used by sliders to make thin, hard pads.

outrun

A portion of the track beyond the finish line where sleds slow to a stop.

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paddle

To push the sled by using spiked gloves on the surface of the ice. Also used as a noun.

pod

An aerodynamically shaped shell that hangs from the bridges. It serves as the athlete's seat.

pull

The portion of the start when the athlete pulls the sled forward, in preparation for the final push.

push

The portion of the start when the uses the handles to push the luge forward to the start line.

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roll

To steer the slide with shoulder pressure. Also used as a noun.

runner guard

A covering of rubber hose or molded fiberglass that protects the steel from scratches when the sled is not on the course.

runner temperature

The temperature of the steels, which must not exceed a maximum, based on track conditions and race rules.

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s-curve

Two connected curves that alternate directions.

scraper

A tool used to smooth the track surface.

settle

The portion of the start in which the athlete lies back on the sled.

shades

Retractable covers that shield the track from sunlight and sometimes from snow between runs.

shampoo

A liquid used to keep the visor from fogging over.

shave

To shear off a thin, top layer of ice with the steels, usually caused by a slight, momentary loss of control.

shell

See pod.

slider

A luge or bobsled athlete.

speed suit

The skin-tight, aerodynamic outfit worn by a slider.

spikes

Metal protrusions worn on the fingertips or the backs of the knuckles of the slider's glove to aid in paddling at the start.

split time

The time it takes to cover a given section of the track, usually from the start to some intermediate point.

steel temperature

See runner temperature.

steel work

The process of polishing the steels.

steels

The steel runners that are attached to the kufens.

start order

The sequence in which the sliders take their runs. Start order varies from one heat to the next, depending on the rules of the specific race.

start time

The time it takes to get from the start to the first intermediate point.

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visor

A rounded sheat of clear or tinted plastic attached to the front of the helmet to protect the face.

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weigh-in

The process of weighing an athlete to determine how much additional weight he or she will be allowed to carry during the race. See also base weight.

weight vest

A vest in which additional weight can be carried.

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