British Royal Navy receives Luge Start Ramp

Glasgow (FIL) The Royal Navy is getting the first luge training ramp in the UK, boosting British winter sports. Masters Engineering students from Glasgow Caledonian University designed and manufactured the artificial luge ramp together with primary school pupils.

The new ramp is intended to enable targeted summer training in luge. It is two and a half metres high and 13 metres long and has now been officially handed over to the Royal Navy Luge Team. The Royal Navy (RN) athletes can practice their starts with the help of the new ramp.

The 10-month project is the result of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) partnership between the University's Mechanical Engineering Department, the Royal Navy and school children from six Renfrewshire schools.

With no luge ramps in the UK, the 15-strong RN luge group struggles to train or find new blood; it relies on two weeks of beginner ice camps each year to find new athletes.

The Captain of the Royal Navy's luge team, Lieutenant Commander Emma Miles, says that “The ability to conduct luge training in the UK will make a huge difference to our luge teams. In a sport that is measured to a 1,000th of a second, being able to start well is paramount. Whilst luge is the fastest ice sport, it is also the toughest, and athletes can take more than 10 years to master it and become competitive on the world stage.

The additional ramp will allow lugers to participate in or run grassroots events and summer training camps to recruit more athletes and improve the starting skills and sled handling of existing members.”

Although the start ramp was supplied to the Royal Navy, it will be used by winter athletes from all three UK Armed Forces teams as well as GB Luge team where it is hoped that it will enable more grassroots events and the opportunity to identify talent at an earlier age.

photos: GCU Luge Ramp Project