Bobsleigh, luge and skeleton words · Intermediate
The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.
I · Intermediate · 34 words · Step 2 of 2Shared/General terms
Timing
Two independent timing systems (A and B) are in operation. Bobsleigh and skeleton times are truncated to 1/100 of a second and luge is timed to 1/1000. Equal times share the same rank.
Number of heats
A bobsleigh or skeleton race is held over 4 heats at the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships and over 2 heats in other official races. Luge singles and doubles are run over two runs and the team relay over one.
See also: Bobsled, Luge, Singles, Doubles, Team relay
Pilot sled
A sled sent down the track before the race to check it. The organiser provides at least three, and five at the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships. In luge these are forerunners, whose steel temperature is also checked.
DQB
Disqualification for unsportsmanlike behaviour, for any violation of the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, or another serious breach of IBSF or IOC rules.
Quota
A limit on how many athletes a nation may enter in a competition.
Bobsled terms
Push bars
The handles the crew pushes on at the start. The pilot's side bar and the side bars retract, the brakeman's handles are fixed, and the handles are between 670 and 870 mm above the runner carriers.
Bobsleigh frame
An articulated frame: the front part holds the steering mechanism and the front axle, and the two parts pivot on a longitudinal pivot bolt. The gauge is 670 mm and the axle base is 1,690 mm (2-man) or 2,130 mm (4-man).
Brake
A harrow-type brake with teeth that cut into the ice, worked by two separate handles. It must work with a single handle without being permanently deformed.
Luge terms
Luge sled parts
Two runners, two steels, a sling seat or pod seat, and two bridges. Steering must result from the function of these parts.
The ruleWhat are the rules for a luge sled?Track is Clear
The notice from the finish that the previous sled has finished. The next athlete may start only after it, within 20 seconds for singles and 35 for doubles. Only one sled may be on the track at a time, except in the team relay.
See also: Track, Sled, Singles, Doubles, Team relay
Team relay
One run by a team of four sleds from each nation: a women's singles, a men's doubles, a men's singles and a women's doubles, in that order. The next sled starts when the start gate opens, which the previous athlete does by hand at the finish touch pad. The time stops when the fourth athlete hits the pad, and missing it is a disqualification.
False start
In the team relay, touching the start gate with a foot or runner or opening it before it is released. The team completes the race but is disqualified.
See also: Team relay
Additional weight
Lighter athletes may carry extra weight on the body, in the torso or thigh area, secured so that it cannot shift. In singles a man may add up to the difference between body weight and 90 kg, at most 13 kg, and a woman the difference to 75 kg, at most 10 kg.
See also: Singles
The ruleCan luge athletes wear extra weight?Wind limit
If wind of more than 35 km/h is measured, the technical delegate and race director decide whether training or racing goes on.
Skeleton terms
Skeleton mixed team
A team of one woman and one man from the same nation. Each does one heat, the woman first.
See also: Run
The ruleHow does the skeleton mixed team work?Technique terms
Line
The path chosen through the curves. The rules do not define it, and it is common usage in coaching.
Also called: racing line
See also: Track
Driving input
In bobsleigh the pilot steers by pulling the steering handles, which move the steering mechanism through ropes. The rules only require ropes and handles to be strong enough.
Kufen
German for runners. In the FIL rules the runner is the part that carries the blade and the blade that touches the ice is the steel. A luge sled has two runners with two steels.
Also called: runners, steels
See also: Sled, Runners, Luge, Skeleton
Intermediate time
A time recorded at a point along the track. The luge rules call for a time sheet with the start time and at least four intermediate times, and the team relay keeps a split time at the first light barrier.
Also called: split time, ice time
See also: Track
Format and rule terms
Sled weight limit
Each sled has a minimum weight and a limit on the total with the athletes. Bobsleigh sleds without the crew weigh at least 170 kg (2-man and 2-woman), 210 kg (4-man) and 163 kg (monobob). Skeleton sleds weigh at most 45 kg (men) and 38 kg (women). Luge singles sleds weigh 21 to 25 kg and doubles sleds 25 to 30 kg.
See also: Sled
Race suit
In luge a race suit must be worn, made of textile fabric only and following the body contours. A neck strap may not make the clothing more aerodynamic. In skeleton the start number shirt may not be aerodynamically modified.
Start ranking
The order in which teams or athletes start, taken from the IBSF ranking list (the first race of a series is drawn). In a two-heat race the second heat is started in reverse order of the first-heat ranking for the leading group, so the leader goes last: 20 to 1 in bobsleigh and in the skeleton World Cup, and 25 to 1 in other skeleton races.
Also called: start order
See also: Track
Runner temperature
Runners are checked before the start. In bobsleigh they may be at most 4 degrees C above a reference runner, or at most minus 10 degrees C if the reference is below minus 14. If the first measurement fails there is a second just before the ice bed, and a second failure is a disqualification. In luge the limit is 5 degrees C above a control blade.
See also: Bobsled, Runners, Luge, Kufen
The ruleWhy are bobsleigh runners checked for temperature?Weight check
In luge each athlete steps on the scale at the start with the sled (one of a doubles pair). In bobsleigh the sled and crew can be weighed after a heat at the Jury's request, and a team may ask for a second test, with up to 5 minutes first to clear snow and ice.
Parc fermé
A fenced area at the start where race sleds wait. In skeleton all work on sleds and runners must be done 45 minutes before the start, with the sleds uncovered, and then no work or runner changes are allowed. The bobsleigh rules require a parc fermé to be set up.
Official training
The scored descents before the race. In bobsleigh each pilot must complete two accident-free training heats per discipline. In luge the organisers must offer at least four timed training runs for singles and four for doubles.
Ranking list
The IBSF list of athletes or teams by the IBSF system of rating, kept for each series.
Safety and track terms
Crash rules
The rules for finishing after a crash. In bobsleigh the whole team must cross the finish with the sled to be ranked, and a sled that stops before the finish is disqualified. In skeleton the athlete only needs to be in contact with the sled at the finish beam. In luge a crash is not grounds for disqualification, but pushing, paddling or walking the sled to the light barrier is.
See also: Sled
Start grooves
The channels in the ice at the start in which the runners sit. The Jury sets them on the first day of training. They are at least 17 mm wide, and in skeleton 16 mm deep (plus or minus 2 mm). Bobsleighs must start in both.
Protection vest
All bobsleigh athletes except the pilot must wear one in training and competition, and the team is disqualified if not.
Spikes
Shoes (bobsleigh and skeleton) may have spikes for pushing the sled, arranged in brush form. Luge gloves may have spikes of at most 5 mm.