Bootie: The 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. 

Handles: There are metal handles at the luge start that the athlete uses to propel himself or herself forward. In each sled, there are also 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: The 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, or the phenomenon of acceleration an athlete feels when exiting a large tight turn. The G-forces act on a sled in a curve by trying 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.

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.