First Day of Issue Winter Olympics Luge Stamp Cache Envelope Enclosure

Description: First Day of Issue Winter Olympics Luge Stamp Cache Envelope Enclosure 29¢ Salt Lake City UT Jan 6 1994 Tobogganing is an active participation sport, but as a competitive sport it was replaced long ago by its descendant, bobsledding Another young descendant, luge was developed in the early 20th century. Luge is the French word for sled, and as a sport, it is similar to tobogganing but the luger half-sits and half-lies on his back, with head toward the back of the sled. The tobogganist lies on the stomach with head at the front of the sled. Originating on the slopes of Mount Royal, Canada in the 19th century as a competitive port, tobogganing was known in Europe as early as at least 1520 in the late 1880s the sport spread to the USA where it soon became popular. Meanwhile, in Europe it was also being taken up as a sport when British tourists started sled-racing on snowbound Alpine roads, In 1879 two toboggan runs or tracks were made at Davos, Switzerland and Klosters These were a success and were followed in March 1883 by an international contest on a course of more than 3,250 yards. Thus lugeing came about. Lugeing soon caught on in Germany and Austria and several courses were built there. Competitions in the Austrian Tyrol were held in 1890 under the sponsorship of the Academic Alpine Club on Innsbruck. Four years later the first Bavanan course was built in Brunnstein, near Oberaudorf and Bavarian championships were staged there in 1905. In 1904 the Styrian Toboggan Club was founded in Austria, and in 1911 the South-West German Toboggan Club was created at Triberg in the Black Forest Later that same year the German Toboggan Association was instituted and the first German national championships were held at Ilmenau in 1913, and in 1914 there came the first European championships. In the period between the wars lugeing became more and more popular but it was to be a very long time before there was a world competition and even longer before it was included in the Olympic Games. The first bobsledding world championships were held in 1924 and 4 man bobs were included in the Winter Olympic Games of that year. The luge, however, was not given world championship status until 1953. at Oslo, Norway in 1957 the International Luge Federation was formed and lugeing finally became an Olympic Sport in 1964 with the first Olympic competition being held at Igis, Austria. At those early Olympics the Germans asserted their authority in the sport, an authority they have pretty well maintained under both political dispensations The future of the luge was assured by the 64 Olympics. The course in international competition is about 1,000 to 1.200 meters long for men's singles and about 200 meters less for women's singles and men's doubles The luge courses have an average drop of 10 to 11 per cent and the major courses have many turns (including hairpins) and curves. Techniques Although some lugers believe in sitting almost upright, the best competitors us a more efficient aerodynamic position, lying back as far as possible with the head up, legs outside the runners, and the toes pointed straight up The driver holds onto reins with one hand and grips the edge of the sled with the other. Steering is accomplished by pushing with the lower part of the leg on the runner on the side away from the direction of the turn, while lifting the other runner with the foot. Pulling on the rein on that side helps with the lifting: shifting the body weight in the direction of the turn also helps. In doubles, the driver is the contestant at the back of the sled and the rider in front is there primarily for ballast, to help through turns by shifting body weight . Equipment A rider wears goggles, a crash helmet and thick gloves, as well as elbow, knee and shoulder pads. Such protection is essential in case a competitor should have a spill while going at speeds of up to 90-miles per hour Serious accidents are not common but in 1964 a British rider (Skrzypekci) was killed on a training run. Riders also wear boots which bear small spikes, and whose toe caps are equipped with serrated edges which help in braking and steering. Features: • First Day of Issue Stamp Cache Envelope and Enclosure • Made in USA Condition: Pre-Owned Good

Price: 6.95 USD

Location: Humble, Texas

End Time: 2024-11-15T16:15:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.25 USD