What's the difference? The first international luge race was held as long ago as 1883 in Davos, Switzerland. In 1957 the first artifical track was constructed in Imst, Austria. Over time two disciplines have emerged. It is these distinctive differences that make the two sports so unique. 
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| Artificial Track | Natural Track | Artifical Tracks have specially designed and constructed banked curves plus walled-in straights. Most tracks are artifically refrigerated, but artifical tracks without artifical cooling als exists (for example, St. Moritz) Tracks tend to be very smooth. | Natural Tracks are adapted from existing mountain roads and paths. Artifically banked curves are not permitted. The tracks's surface must be horizontal. They are naturally iced. The use of artifical refrigeration is forbidden. Tracks can get rough from the braking and steering action |
 The athletes ride in an aerodynamic and flat position on the sled, keep their heads low and steer by shifting their body weight as well as pressing in on the runners with their feet. They speed around high banked curves pulling a gravitational up to 4G.
| Athletes use a steering strap and drag their arms and legs in order to drive around the tight flat corners. Braking is often required in front of curves and is accomplished by the use of spikes built on the bottom of the shoes. |
Aerodynamics is everything. A special seat smooths out the air flow while solid steel runners with a more rounded edge ride over the smoother ice.
|  Sled are very flexible to help in steering and use razor sharp blades. The seat is designed to hold the athlete in place while braking and steering on the rough ice.
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Ther are other differences as well, such as equipment and outfit, for example | 
