Jamie Squire/Allsport |
TERMS
Artificial Track: A refrigerated track, or a natural track with banked curves. The Utah Olympic Park course is an artificial track.
Bridge: The part of the sled connecting the two runners together, from which the aerodynamic racing shell is suspended. There are two bridges on each sled.
Eighty-one: Term used at the Lake Placid luge course to signify a crash.
Face Shield: The clear visor placed on the front of the helmet for safety and aerodynamic purposes.
Kufen: German word for the fiberglass or wood runner.
Labyrinth: A series of three or more curves placed together with no straight-aways between them.
Lose Your Head: Inability to keep the head up in a high G-force turn. The head may go all the way down to the ice.
Luge: French word for sled.
Push: Phase of the start motion right before the release of the start handles.
Spikes: Objects on gloves that aid in the acceleration of the sled after leaving the start handles. A maximum of 4 mm long, spikes are placed on the glove's finger tips or knuckles.
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