Luge
How did the Luge get its name?
It’s the French word for “sled.”
This Canadian Amazing Race host won gold in skeleton at Vancouver 2010.
Jon Montgomery
When every Winter Olympics is on the horizon, the conversation quickly turns to how dangerous everything seems to be. How many athletes have tragically passed away at a Winter Olympics?
Two deaths have come in luge, one in alpine skiing and one in the demonstration sport of speed skiing.
How do you slow down a luge sled?
There are no braking devices on luge sleds.
What century was the skeleton invented?
In the mid-19th century
How fast can a luge go?
Up to 140 kilometres per hour
What NSO represent the Skeleton team?
Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada
How many Skeleton tracks are there in the world?
There are only 16 Ice tracks in the world, all legacies of an Olympic Games. From 4 in North America, 8 in Europe and 3 across Asia. All tracks are different and take years or planning and expertise to ensure the twists and turns are achievable at speeds of over 140km/ per hour.
The average skeleton track ranges from 1,200 to 1650 metres. What other sports compete on this track?
Luge, Skeleton and Bobsleigh all compete on the same track.
How do you steer a skeleton sled?
Skeleton sliders steer by using subtle body movements like shifting their weight, applying pressure with their knees or shoulders, and even tapping their toes on the ice to influence the sled's direction.
Skeleton steering is done by pushing your shoulders or knees into the sled to twist it so that it changes direction. Most of the steers are pretty subtle, and if you're doing it well, it's hard to tell by watching.
Is the luge run time measured when they touch the finish line or cross the finish line?
A luger must slide past the finish line on the sled for the run to be counted.
How many Olympic medals has Team Canada won in luge?
Canada has won two Olympic medals in luge, both achieved at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics: a bronze in the women's singles and a silver in the team relay.
Prior to PyeongChang 2018, Canada had never won an Olympic medal in luge
When did Skeleton get reintroduced as an Olympic sport after being dropped in 1948.
Salt Lake City 2002
What century was the Luge invented?
In the 1500s in Norway. But at first, the sport took place on hills. The first luge tracks weren’t built until 300 years later.
How fast can a skeleton go?
130 kilometres per hour.
What country leads in luge medals?
Germany leads with 87 medals (38 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze), followed by Italy with 18 (7 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze) and Austria with 25 (6 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze).
How many medals has Team Canada won in Skeleton?
Four total
2 gold - Duff Gibson Turin 2006, Jon Montgomery Van 2010
1 silver - Jeff Pain Turin 2006
1 bronze - Melissa Hollingsworth Turin 2006
What year was the luge mixed team relay added to the program?
Sochi 2014
The relay starts with the women's singles sled. When the athlete reaches the end of the track, she hits an overhead touchpad to open the start gate for the men's singles sled, who begin their run before striking the touchpad to release the doubles sled that makes the final run down the course.
As soon as the women's singles sled begins its run, the clock starts running and only ends when the doubles sled strikes the touchpad. The winner of the event is the team with the lowest time after all three sleds have finished.
The starting order is determined by the ranking of each nation in reverse order. One team per NOC is allowed to compete in the team relay - one man, one woman, and one doubles team entered in their individual disciplines.
https://www.olympics.com/en/news/what-is-the-luge-mixed-team-relay-event
In Milano-Cortina where will the Luge and Skeleton take place?
Cortina D'Ampezzo at the Cortina Sliding Centre
The same spot as Curling and Alpine Skiing
Where was the Skeleton invented?
in Switzerland. Legend has it that British soldiers were sledding down a ski track in the Swiss town of St. Moritz when one of the men decided to try and beat everyone’s times by racing headfirst.
In the Luge competition format, how many runs are made in single and doubles teams?
In World Cup, World Championships and other international competitions, two heats are held in each event. At the Olympics, four heats are held in singles and two in doubles.
All of the runs are added up. The athlete or pair with the fastest total time wins.
Can you name an athlete in luge or skeleton who was supported by the COF?
Trinity Ellis, Luge, Murphy Family 2024, Bitove 2023, Bitove 2021
Grace Dafoe, Skeleton, FOF 2023
Hallie Clarke, Skeleton, Murphy Family 2024
Tristan Walker, Luge, Murphy Family 2021
There are 5 Olympic luge events including Women's and men's singles, men's and women's doubles, and team relay.
How many Luge medals will be given out in Milano-Cortina 2026?
Milano Cortina 2026 will see 12 medals on offer across men's singles, women's singles and the mixed team relay events.
What is the difference between a monobob and a skeleton and a luge?
The main differences between monobob, skeleton, and luge lie in the sled design, rider position, and starting method:
monobob is a single-person bobsleigh
skeleton involves a head-first, prone position
luge involves a back-first, feet-first position
What is a possible reason you could get disqualified in skeleton?
False starts
Athletes can be disqualified for failing to get their sled to the "parque fermé" (the area where sleds are inspected) by the deadline.
Sled modifications