Goodwill Games

Events/Disciplines: Men's, Women's, Doubles

Venue: Bobsled/Luge track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg

Competition Schedule: Thursday, February 17 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
(doubles - both runs, women - 1st run)

Friday, February 18 - 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
(men - both runs, women - 2nd run)

Number of Athletes: 20 men, 20 women,
10 doubles teams (20 athletes)

Competition Format: 2 runs per entry,
winners are determined by the fastest combined time

Brief Description: Luge took place at the brand new state-of-the-art bobsled, luge and skeleton facility in Lake Placid. The word "luge" comes from the French word for "sled." Luge athletes are called "sliders," and travel at speeds up to 90 mph, sliding on their backs, feet first, in an aerodynamic position wearing an aerodynamic suit and helmet and special pointed booties. Athletes must have strong neck and stomach muscles to maneuver the sled at those speeds and resist as much five g's of force in the curves of some tracks.

To start the race, lugers, in a sitting position, rock back and forth on their sleds and pull off on the start handles. Once they leave the start, they paddle along the ice with spiked gloves before reclining flat in the race position. The Winter Goodwill Games had three disciplines: men's and women's singles and a doubles luge competition. In singles, one rider will compete at a time. In the doubles competition, two athletes will ride the sled with the front driver directing the craft by steering the runners while the back man steers the rear of the sled. Top lugers study the course ahead of time and mentally rehearse their race, so they can steer quickly through the run. Luge, which is timed to the thousandth of a second, often features races that are won and lost by those fractions. The winner must pick the fastest line down the run. The primary rule in luge to receive an official time is to hold on to your sled. Sliders who fall off are only disqualified if they cross the finish line without their sleds.

Lake Placid connection: with the arrival of the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid came the construction of the nation's first refrigerated luge run in 1979. In the same year, the U.S. Luge Association (USLA) was formed as the sport's National Governing Body. Its' headquarters is in the York International Luge Training Complex in Lake Placid.