Bobsleigh, luge and skeleton words · Beginner
The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.
B · Beginner · 26 words · Step 1 of 2Shared/General terms
Track
The ice channel that sleds slide down from the start to the finish. The international rules cover refrigerated artificial tracks; the chief of track keeps the ice temperature constant during a run and it is shown in the start area.
Sled
The vehicle the athlete rides. A bobsleigh, a skeleton sled and a luge sled are built to different rules, but each has fixed limits on weight and construction that are checked before and after a run.
See also: Track
Run
A single timed descent. The IBSF rules for bobsleigh and skeleton call it a heat and the FIL luge rules call it a run. Training descents are also called runs or heats but are not scored.
Also called: heat
See also: Track
Start
The first part of the descent. In bobsleigh and skeleton the athletes push the sled from the start block and timing is started at the first timing point, 50 m after the start, within 60 seconds (bobsleigh) or 30 seconds (skeleton). In luge the athlete starts from the start handles within 20 seconds (singles) or 35 seconds (doubles) after the notice that the track is clear.
G-force
The pressing force an athlete feels in the curves, when the track pushes the sled round. The rules mention it only as one of the things electronic measuring instruments may record.
Total time
The sum of the times of all the heats or runs. The lowest total wins, and equal times share the same rank. Bobsleigh and skeleton times are truncated to 1/100 of a second, and luge is timed to 1/1000.
Also called: combined time
Finish
The end of the run. In luge the finish light barrier ends the run and either the athlete or the sled may trigger it, as long as the athlete is in contact with the sled. In skeleton the athlete's helmet must break the beam. In bobsleigh the whole team crosses with the sled.
DNS
Did Not Start. An athlete or team drawn for the competition did not start.
DSQ
Disqualified. Officials ruled that the athlete or team broke the rules and cannot be placed.
Bobsled terms
Bobsled
A sled with a frame and a fixed body (the cowling), ridden by a crew sitting one behind the other. The pilot steers with handles and ropes that move the front runners. The events are the 2-man, 4-man, 2-woman and women's monobob, plus a bobsleigh and skeleton mixed team.
Two-man / four-man
The crew-size categories: 2-man, 4-man, 2-woman and the women's monobob, with a crew of one. Each has its own sled weight limits. A 4-man crew has a pilot, two push-bar members in the middle and the brakeman at the back.
Push start
The sprint at the start in which the crew pushes the sled from the start block, using the push bars and, if used, spiked shoes. The block may be stepped on but its rear edge may not be crossed, no one else may help, and the timing is started at the first timing point within 60 seconds.
See also: Sled
Pilot
The crew member who steers by pulling steering handles connected by ropes to the steering mechanism on the front axle, and who drives from the sitting position. Entries are made by the pilot's name, and pilots need a minimum number of ranked IBSF races to start in World Cups and Championships.
Brakeman
The crew member who sits at the back. The bobsleigh's brake has two handles, which in a 4-man bob are placed either side of the brakeman, and the brakeman's push handles are fixed. Using the brake to stop after the finish is common usage.
See also: Sled
Runners
The steel blades under the sled that touch the ice. In IBSF races only standard IBSF runners may be used, and their shape is checked with a gauge.
See also: Sled
Luge terms
Luge
A sliding sport on a small open sled with two runners and a seat, ridden seated or reclined with the athlete steering with legs and body (the rules say only that steering must come from the sled's own parts). Events are women's and men's singles and doubles, a team relay and a sprint.
Singles
The luge events for one athlete on the sled, held for women and for men. Each is run over two runs and the times are added.
Start handles
The fixed handles at the start that the athlete holds before launching. The start is valid once the athlete has left the handles with a push and put the sled in motion. A flying start is not allowed.
See also: Track
Sliding position
The positions the rules allow for travelling from start to finish: seated or reclined on the sled. The very low, flat shape lugers aim for is common usage.
See also: Sled
Skeleton terms
Skeleton
An individual sport in which the athlete rides head-first, lying on the stomach, on a sled with a saddle. Only driving from the head-first prone position is allowed, and the athlete may not lose contact with the sled after the start timing point.
See also: Sled
Head-first position
Lying on the stomach with the head forward. The athlete's arms must stay outside the saddle, no handles are permitted, and the athlete must break the finish beam with the helmet.