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Street luge is an extreme gravity-powered activity that involves riding a streetluge board (sometimes referred to as a sled) down a paved road or course. A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. Street luge is also known as land luge or road luge. Like skateboarding, street luge is often done for sport and for recreation. Skateboarding is the act of riding and performing tricks using a Skateboard. Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's Body or Mind.

2001 Gravity Games. Providence, RI
2001 Gravity Games. Providence, RI
Recreation run down Winchester, Utah (Snow Canyon in background)
Recreation run down Winchester, Utah (Snow Canyon in background)

Other than the supine riding position and very high speeds (40-70 mph / 64-115 km/h), street luge has little relation to its winter namesake (luge). A luge is a small one- or two-person Sled on which one sleds supine (face up and feet-first

Contents

History

Street luge was born in Southern Oklahoma as downhill skateboarders found they could reach faster speeds by lying down on their skateboards. Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. This early form of the sport is now referred to as "classic style" or "butt boarding".

In 1975 the first professional race was held at Signal Hill, California and hosted by the U. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Signal Hill is a small City (22 mi², 58 km² in Los Angeles County, California that is an Enclave (completely surrounded by the S. Skateboard Association. The race winner was based on top speed. The boards used in this race varied from basic skateboards to complex skate cars in which the rider was completely enclosed by plastic or fiberglass. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Glass-reinforced plastic ( GRP) is a Composite material or Fiber-reinforced plastic made of a Plastic reinforced by fine fibers The sport was not commonly referred to as street luge at this time but the term luge was used to describe some participants riding position. Most contestants were standing up however an opening in the rules enabled riders to choose their own board position - including prone. By 1978, repeated injuries to both riders and spectators halted the races at Signal Hill. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar)

Several riders from the Signal Hill races kept the sport alive by continuing to hold races in Southern California. Throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, both underground and professional races continued to be held in Southern California by such organizations as the Underground Racers Association (URA), Federation of International Gravity Racing (FIGR) and Road Racers Association for International Luge (RAIL). The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 Race organizers in the 1980s and 1990s started implementing many more equipment, safety and race regulations.

Meanwhile in the early 1990s some Austrian skateboarders started sitting down on their skateboards on the way back from teaching skiing in the Alps. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 This activity lead to a classic style street luge race in Austria, riding wooden boards closer to large skateboards than the usual street luge, which is heavier, longer, has larger wheels and more trucks than a skateboard or classic luge. There is now a healthy street luge riding and racing presence in many European countries (see below).

In the mid 1990s, ESPN’s X Games showcased street luge to the world and the sport was originally sanctioned by RAIL, then by the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA). The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to The X Games is an annual event with a focus on extreme action sports NBC followed ESPN’s lead and created the Gravity Games in which the sport was sanctioned by Extreme Downhill International (EDI). The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Smaller events also appeared in Canada, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and the U.K.. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Qualification criteria for these events varied and was controlled by each of the sanctioning bodies.

After a media splurge through the late 90's and early 00's, extreme sports like streetluge have taken a lower profile. The X Games has evolved towards more of a stadium-based games for commercial cost and marketing reasons. Others such as the Gravity Games, Hot Heels and the Australian Xtreme Games have also disappeared.

While no longer a sport in either the X Games or Gravity Games, street luge is a burgeoning sport in numerous countries with competitions around the globe. There are approximately 1,200+ active street luge riders in the world.

Equipment, safety & racing

Street lugers ride modified skateboards in the supine position. The design of these boards is based on the rules set forth from different governing bodies. Consistent design elements include:

  1. The use of lean activated steering skateboard style trucks
  2. The prohibited use of mechanical brakes
  3. Front and rear padding
  4. Length, width and weight restrictions - details depend on sanctioning body
  5. The prohibited use of parts that enclose the rider’s body or hinder braking

Current street luge boards are made from many materials including steel, aluminum, wood, and carbon fibre–. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 WikipediaNaming Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Carbon fiber reinforced plastic ( CFRP or CRP) is a very strong light and expensive Composite material or fiber reinforced plastic. The majority of the street luge boards in the world are custom made although commercial models are now available. Actual board designs can vary as the construction rules are very open and allow for numerous design considerations.

Riders participating in sanctioned racing events are required to wear safety equipment including:

  1. Hard shell helmet with chin strap and face shield or goggles
  2. Leather or Kevlar racing suit
  3. Leather or Kevlar gloves
  4. Sturdy Shoes

Race courses are usually held on mountain roads but have been held on city streets as well. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Kevlar is the registered Trademark for a light strong para-aramid Synthetic fiber, related to other Aramids such as Nomex and Courses can range in length from 0. 5 to 3 miles (1 to 5 km) and vary in layout (number and severity of turns). Racing can take the following formats:

  1. Single elimination with 2, 4, or 6 racers at a time
  2. Double elimination with 2, 4, or 6 racers at a time
  3. Timed trials
  4. No elimination points system (points for each finishing position in several heats)
  5. Mass runs, with up to 20 racers at a time (positions are decided by the order they cross the finish line)

Governing bodies

Street luge is currently governed by numerous organizations around the world. Each of these organizations has it own rules although all of them are similar.

References

External links

Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
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