FIL – International Luge Federation
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LugeWeight transfer, movement, runner precision: how do you correctly steer a luge?
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FIL – International Luge FederationBy
Updated 13/12/2025 at 15:11 GMT
Watching the luge flying down the track, one might not have considered all the factors involved as competitors hit top speed in pursuit of glory. In particular, how does a Luger themselves manage to steer their vehicle through all the twists and turns, while maintaining such high speeds? It's a skill that requires both knowledge and ability with every valuable second on the line.
Kristers Aparjods of Latvia in action during the FIL Luge World Cup Men's Singles first run at Olympia-Eiskanal Igls on December 08, 2024 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Luge might look straightforward at first glance, but steering one properly takes real skill. It’s a mix of technique, the right kit, and a deep understanding of the track(s) you’re about to face.
First thing to know: no two luge sleds are ever exactly alike. Their design changes depending on the country and brand that makes them. Most people wouldn’t spot the differences, but every part (the runners, the bridges, the chassis, the pod and even the handles) varies, especially at high-level competition.
One of the most important parts, the runners, are shined and polished differently for each track and weather conditions or ice temperature. It also depends on the pilot, their weight, and how the luge has been built.
Chasing the perfect line
All of this affects the steering behavior of the luge. In this extremely fast sport, the ultimate goal of a luger is to take every turn at the highest possible speed in order to hit the perfect line for the next section of the track. If you deviate from this ideal trajectory, you risk skidding or even crashing. You have to control every change of direction when entering each turn.
To do that, pilots rely on two things: their weight and the pressure of their body on the runners. In luge, your whole body is involved: head, shoulders, hands, feet. Your body weight is spread over the runners, which sit at an angle and slightly offset from each other, so the whole system is flexible and can stear on the slippery ice and follow the athlete’s movements.
The whole body is steering
To steer a luge, you press your legs against the runners, push one shoulder into the pod and use the handles. Take a right turn, for example: the pilot shifts their weight to the right, presses with the left leg the left runner down into the ice, drives their right shoulder into the pod, and lifts the right handle. Turning left works in the same way, just mirrored.Â
Turning too early won’t help. In fact, it makes the skid longer, costing precious seconds as the pilot then must make extra movements to fix the line. To avoid that, experienced lugers use just the right mix of body pressure, weight transfer, and precise handle work to guide the luge smoothly through each turn.
A good luge run starts long before you’re on the ice. Pilots spend hours studying the track in advance, memorising every tricky section and working out the best way to attack each corner.
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