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The Olympic competitive sport of sleighing, in which contestants career down specially constructed tracks, in a prone position head first, with their nose inches away from the ice, at speeds in which the best can average around eighty miles per hour.

Location
All cources are artificial with a cement infrastructure. British participants of luge have to travel to countries where snowy conditions can be assured, to both practise and compete in competitions. There are no sleigh tracks in the UK.

Description
Skeletons use the same track as bobsleigh and luge, being at least 1200 m (1312 yards) long.
A run begins with a running "push", (typically over 25 to 40 metres). After pushing, the athlete dives onto the sled and descends down the track. Athletes must lie prone, facing downhill, with arms at their sides, Only the force produced by the athlete and the force of gravity are permitted to propel the skeleton. The skeleton is steered by movements of the athlete's body.

Dedication
Courses vary in length between 800 and 1250 meters, and are artificially refrigerated. the run gradient must not exceed 10%, and the course should include a left hand bend, a right hand bend, a hairpin, an S bend and a labyrinth. Also Straight sections.

Closely Related Activities
Tobogganing 608, Sledging (Sleighing and Sleding 833, Luge 834, Bob Sleigh 76,

Cost
To compete successfully in luge is an expensive exercise, as a competitor not only has equipment to purchase, consisting of;
Skeleton (Sled)
Alpine Racing Helmet with chinguard .
Aerodynamic suit.
Spiked shoes, similar to track spikes.
Other personal protective clothing (optional).
Also the costs of traveling too, and accommodation at, the practice and competition locations. And the hire of practice tracks. (There are no practice tracks or competition locations to be found within the UK.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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