In luge, the start handles are the two metal bars located at the very beginning of the track. They are the most critical tools for a luger to build initial speed.
Their Purpose
Riders use these handles to launch themselves down the track. Luge depends on gravity; the faster a rider can “blast off” from these handles, the more momentum they carry through the rest of the course.
How Riders Use Them
The start process involves a specific sequence of movements:
- The Rock: The rider sits on the sled and grips the handles. They rock back and forth several times to find their rhythm and build tension.
- The Pull: The rider pulls their body forward with explosive force using the handles.
- The Slingshot: As they move past the handles, they “kick” the sled forward with their legs and let go, transitioning from a pull to a push.
Why They Are Important
- Creating Speed: The start handles provide the only moment in the race where a rider can use their upper-body strength to generate speed.
- Precision: If a rider pulls unevenly on the handles, the sled will wobble. A tiny wiggle at the start can cause the sled to hit a wall later in the race.
- The “Start Lead”: Winners are often decided by who has the best “start time,” which is measured from the moment they leave the handles to the first timing light.
Design and Rules
- Fixed Position: The handles are bolted into the ice or a concrete ramp at the top of the track.
- Spacing: They are spaced wide enough to allow the rider and the sled to pass between them comfortably.
- Gloves: Lugers wear spiked gloves to help them continue building speed on the ice immediately after they release the handles.