luge slower than speed-boarding?

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ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by Bugs on March 10, 2009 at 21:00

Lugers are faster than skaters in a straight line, except at the beginning of a run where skaters have the advantage of their stronger push.. Once there are corners it becomes a bit more complicated. Lugers have the aerodynamic advantage, but skaters can take tighter corners with less sliding/braking.

Perhaps the lugers are getting passed by skaters in videos because the lugers are holding the camera and not concentrating as much on their aerodynamics?

I also get the impression that skaters' straight-line speed has gotten closer to lugers over the years; perhaps skater's tuck techniques are geting better?

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Permalink Reply by stephen.mhsrider on March 10, 2009 at 21:26

lugers would be very aerodynamic and the luge speed record is a whole 20km/h faster than the stand up record. though they may not be able to turn as tight in corners

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Permalink Reply by Duff on March 10, 2009 at 21:29

stephen.mhsrider said:

though they may not be able to turn as tight in corners

he he he

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Permalink Reply by stephen.mhsrider on March 10, 2009 at 21:33

just a wild stab in the dark from a noob :P

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Permalink Reply by Duff on March 10, 2009 at 21:47

Yeah it depends how you set it up Stephen, close the wheel base right up and its not much bigger than a skate setup. Heavier board but with a lower C of G and if you want twice the amount of wheels on the road, it certainly makes for some quick cornering and good fun!

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Permalink Reply by Sean on March 11, 2009 at 11:19

Lugers are definitely faster in a straight line, usually by around 20km/h on me on my inlines. As Bugs said, stand-up riders have gotten significantly faster in recent years (due to tucks and probably wheels and trucks as well). While not as quick as lugers, they have closed the gap somewhat. It does depend on the hill a lot - on a steeper windier hill, the difference is less, or stand-up can actually be quicker. On a flatter hill without sharp corners lugers will be noteably quicker. On a rough road near canberra recently, I was getting 82 and the lugers were getting 84 - due to the roughness and some sharper corners. Altitude may also be an evening up factor, with less wind resistance meaning that the aero advantage that lugers have is probably diminished. Even at moderate altitudes such as at Guthega in the Snowys, stand-ups are going over 100 on what would normally be a pretty moderate sort of hill.

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Permalink Reply by silly fella on March 11, 2009 at 17:44

check the fastest times in the western sydney shoot out i think jacko's(skater) time was better than tylers(luger)

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on March 11, 2009 at 18:06

that cant really determine much, that track was really short and all it was came down to was who could rail that corner the best and CARRY the speed through it to the end... skateboarders had the ultimate advantage there because they can take corners a lot easier but that corner was one big fat mind fuck trying to take it full tilt.... Lugers will always be faster on the straight line, im not sure if the same goes for butt-boards because they use different gear (4 wheels only, 70mm max) and im not sure if a luge is more stable than butt boards, but as far as aerodynamics goes the dudes laying down will always be more aero than the dudes standing up... then when it comes to corners the dudes standing up will always shit all over the dudes laying down (except for duff flying down corkscrew road, your nuts man.... fucken nuts)
so i guess what it all comes down to is who has the most control and the biggest balls.

now enough talk about who is faster than who go and skate! (or roll... whatever floats your boat)

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Permalink Reply by dave k on March 11, 2009 at 20:43

Luges are faster in corners !

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