Bootie: Luge racing shoe

Bridge: The part of a sled that connects the two runners together and from which the aerodynamic racing shell is suspended. Made of steel, there are two on each sled, front and back 

G-force: Short for gravitational force, it is the force caused by an acceleration equal to the acceleration caused by gravity. In skeleton, the strongest G-forces are generated going around severe turns. Athletes can feel a force of several “Gs” coming around the sharp, banked turns.

Handles: There are metal handles at the luge start that the athlete uses to propel himself or herself forward. In each sled, there also are handles inside the pod

Kufen: (KOOF-en) The German word for fiberglass or wood runner (The steels are what actually touch the ice, and the steels are attached to the Kufens)

Line: The trajectory a sled takes down the track

Luge: French word for sled

Paddle: The act of accelerating the sled forward after the start, using spiked gloves to dig into the ice surface

Pod: Also known as the shell, the aerodynamic shell attached to the bottom of the racing sled. It also acts as the seat for the athlete.

Pull: The phase of the start motion when the athlete begins the forward movement of the actual start

Push: The phase of the start motion immediately prior to the release of the handles. This is exemplified by a push off the start handles using the triceps, causing extension of the arms. Also used for the G-forces that act on a sled in a curve to pull the sled up the curve. The athlete fights this by steering the sled low in the curve. When this steer is released at the exit, the G-forces that wanted to pull the sled up now push the sled out of the curve. This is the desirable condition an athlete strives to reach.

Runners: Also known as "Kufens" (See above)

Shell: Also known as the pod, the aerodynamic component attached to the bottom of the racing sled. It also acts as the seat for the athlete.

Steels: The steel pieces on which the sled rides. They are attached to the Kufens, or runners.