Dow Designs High Tech Luge Runners

Detroit News:

With the help of Michigan-based Dow Chemical Co., the U.S. luge team may have found an edge in its quest for gold at the winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia.

Dow has developed new runners that are “proving to be lighter and easier to maneuver” than the ones they’re replacing on some sleds, said Sandy Caligiore, a spokesman for the United States Luge Association in Lake Placid, N.Y. “Generally speaking, that allows us to get down the track with less steering, which means less friction. Less friction means more speed. Friction is a four-letter word in luge.”

For Dow, which had some experience in auto racing, the luge project was the first time it took on such an effort for a sporting event, said Scott Burr, Dow Chemical’s lead research and development manager, who worked on the project.....

Scientists and engineers at the company’s Research and Development Division in Midland began work to update the luge sled runners two years ago. The group included manufacturing specialists and experts in machining, rapid prototyping and industrial design, Burr said.

Dow researchers tailored materials and composites used in the automotive and construction industries for the sled runners.

Through testing, “one of the key things we learned is that if a rider tenses up, the sled is slow, no matter how good of a sled you put on the track,” Burr said.

Team USA began using Dow’s runners, and the steel blades made by U.S. Steel and honed by Norton Abrasives — the team’s primary sponsor — in October, the start of the world luge competition season, Burr said.

The advancements have already helped. The U.S. team has won four World Cup silver medals this season, the group’s best season in three years, Caligiore said.

For competitive reasons, Dow or USA Luge won’t disclose the materials being used in the new runners.

Burr said the runners are made from a composite system, not a single material. Caligiore said the runners are still fiberglass, but a “little bit funkier” fiberglass.

I still have no idea how lugers drive those things.  While I think the sport is pretty cool, doubles luge is so gay.  If it was co-ed, I'd be in for it, but as it is, no thanks.