The luge is recognized as one of the fastest and most physically demanding winter sports, requiring athletes to navigate icy tracks at speeds exceeding 90 mph. Unlike other sledding disciplines, a luge sled is steered primarily through the athlete’s legs and shoulders. The sled itself features runners called kufen, which are crafted from flexible wood like ash or maple and tipped with specialized steel. To gain initial momentum, athletes use gloves fitted with 4 mm steel spikes to "paddle" against the ice before transitioning into a supine (flat on the back) position to maximize aerodynamics.
Precision is paramount in competitive luge, where race times are measured to the thousandth of a second. At high speeds, athletes experience centrifugal forces of up to 5Gs in banked curves, requiring immense neck strength to maintain visibility. To minimize drag, lugers wear custom-tailored, "calendered" suits made of slick, coated fabric that reduces air resistance. Because the sleds lack mechanical brakes, the track is designed to tilt upward at the finish line, allowing gravity and the athlete's body position to bring the sled to a safe stop.
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