Luge in the Olympics

[Raiders4907]

I need info for a project in school regarding "luge" in the olympics. Any information you may have on the subject would be very helpful to me. Actually you dont really have to send me anything, my teacher is sitting right here and im only doing this so I can be on bluegrass preps and when she says something ill just show her this forum. Thanks

[Raiders4907]

Okay now I really do need some info. Me and my teacher made a bet that no one will give me any information on the subject so I need help. Anything will do I really only need one post. Thanks!

[afi100guy]

Here you go.

 

Luge was introduced to the Winter Olympic Games in 1964, with both men's and women's events and a doubles event.

[Run To State]

:lol:

 

OK, I'll help out.

 

Luge, which takes its name from the French word for sled, is one of the fastest Olympic sports, with riders exceeding 90 mph.

 

Luge action in Vancouver will be at Whistler Sliding Center. The track for the men's luge competition is 1,450 metres long, and 1,198 meters for the women's and doubles luge events. The official track speed record is a mind-numbing 153.98 kilometers per hour!

[jahearme]

I know there is the single person luge and the two-person luge.

This ought to get the conversation going!!

[afi100guy]

Here you go.

 

Luge was introduced to the Winter Olympic Games in 1964, with both men's and women's events and a doubles event.

 

German lugers have dominated the competition, winning 65 medals in 36 events.

[Run To State]

There are three divisions in the luge competition: men's singles, women's singles, and doubles. Luge doubles can be contested by either sex but the teams are almost always made up of two men.

The singles format for Olympic luge is unique. Instead of the usual format of two timed runs in one day, athletes make four runs down the course over two days of competition. Men and women compete on the same track, but the women start the race at a point farther down the track.

[Run To State]

It wasn't until the 1998 Nagano Games that the United States broke the stranglehold, claiming the doubles' silver and bronze. They repeated the silver-bronze feat in the doubles event 2002 at Salt Lake City. The team of Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette took the bronze in 1998 and the silver in 2002, but the U.S. failed to medal in the 2006 Games in Torino.

Top U.S. luger Tony Benshoof is the only American chance for a medal; he has consistently placed in the top 10 in world competitions. Italy's Armin Zoeggeler, the 2002 and 2006 gold medalist, is favored to win the top spot once again.

[Raiders4907]

Thanks alot. Since we cannot bet money in school she now owes me two sodas. Lol,thanks alot for all your help.

[Run To State]

What do we get?

[Birdsfan]

What do we get?

Look to the left of your post.

[TonyDanza]

Here is a photo of a singles luge and a doubles luge. Also tell your teacher that you should get extra credit since TonyDanza sent this to you. :lol::lol:

[All Tell]

Lugers used to wear absurd pointed helmets. They were supposedly more aerodynamic but it made all the lugers look like coneheads.

[stickymitts]

Some chick just died practicing at the Winter Olympics. Just got a FoxNews update.

[nees1212]

Some chick just died practicing at the Winter Olympics. Just got a FoxNews update.

 

It was a guy. He lost control on the fastest part of the track, went over the wall, and hit a metal pole. He was only 21 years old.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Nodar-Kumaritashvili-suffers-life-threatening-in?urn=oly,219382