Feet first. Eight questions.
The Luge History Quiz
Postmen, steering poles, warm runners and an exact Olympic tie. Every answer links to its story in the luge history.
Luge
How does a luger steer without a wheel?
A luger makes minute steering inputs through the calves and shoulders while lying almost motionless.
Luge
Who shared victory in the first international sliding race at Davos in 1883?
George Robertson and Klosters postman Peter Minsch both finished in exactly nine minutes and fifteen seconds.
Luge
Which experiment helped split skeleton from feet-first luge?
Cornish went down the Cresta head first in 1887. That position became skeleton; feet first became luge.
Luge
What unusual equipment did 1955 world champion Anton Salvesen use?
Salvesen steered Scandinavian-style with a wooden pole four or five metres long trailing behind like a rudder.
Luge
Why were three East German women disqualified at Grenoble in 1968?
Officials found their runners warm. Heated steel creates a thicker film of meltwater and can glide faster.
Luge
What followed the exact tie in the 1972 Olympic doubles?
Both crews received gold. Luge subsequently adopted timing to the thousandth of a second.
Luge
Where did the first permanently refrigerated luge track open?
Königssee opened the first permanently refrigerated track in 1968, making scheduled artificial-ice racing possible.
Luge
How many of the nine available luge medals did East Germany win at both the 1972 and 1988 Games?
The GDR won eight of nine medals at Sapporo and repeated the feat at its final Games in Calgary.
Finished