The primary components of the luge remain the same, except instead of ice, the track is made of teflon. And in lieu of the bobsled, we have the ball-bearing-luge suit. A suit that is lined from head to toe with individualy contained ball bearings. At the start of his run, the competitor gets a 10' run off of a traction pad made to allow them footing even though they have ball bearings everywhere. S/he then hurls h(im)(er) self down the track. The winner is declared by fastest time (in mph) or bones remaining intact (whichever is higher).
-- photojunkie, Feb 05 2005

A wheeled suit for parachutes? http://www.peapit.c...gear/jumpsuits.html
Just came up in a search. 3rd from top. [DesertFox, Feb 05 2005]

Teflon Luge Teflon_20Luge
Slick [DesertFox, Feb 05 2005]

Wheeled suit Bodyboard
Shameless self promotion [david_scothern, Feb 07 2005]

Dachshund luge Dachshund_20Luge
by benfrost. For Ball Bearing Luge test runs, perhaps. [calum, Feb 07 2005]

There was a guy who had a suit of this very description who used to show up at street luge races and carom down the hill. I'll look for a link.
-- normzone, Feb 05 2005


I'd heard of something like that, normzone.

And, if you look at the ideas, you'll see teflon luge.

[MFD] baked.
-- DesertFox, Feb 05 2005


Yah, but this one has ball bearings, which are better. This one could, in other words, actually work.
-- moomintroll, Feb 05 2005


No need for the teflon coating.
-- bristolz, Feb 05 2005


I think that a slicker than average surface is needed (which is why i'm suggestion teflon) in order to reduce friction a bit more and reduce the heat generated... wouldn't want to cook the poor bastards...
-- photojunkie, Feb 06 2005


Now, if we stuck a chicken in the suit and rolled it down the non-teflon chute, we could have dinner and a show!

<screamingchickeninasuit> SQUAAAWK! !

</screamingchickeninasuit>
-- DesertFox, Feb 06 2005


Hey, Look up: EVERSLIDE winter sports without snow. They make a material to sled, ski, or ski jump/fly on without snow. I think I would keep the luge! Ha!
-- fity, Feb 06 2005


Teflon is not particularly durable.
-- bristolz, Feb 06 2005


Yeah, you'd have to peel the poor bastards off of the ground with plastic utensils rather than metal. Bad for the environment.

Why not just use good old-fashioned stainless steel for the track? It might absorb some of the generated heat pretty well.
-- shapu, Feb 07 2005


Stainless is a horrid heat conductor. I think fiberglass or plastic or resin coat all would be better than a metallic surface.
-- bristolz, Feb 07 2005


Graphite? Not sure if there would be health concerns.

Oh, right, it's a luge.
-- tiromancer, Feb 07 2005


//Stainless is a horrid heat conductor. I think fiberglass or plastic or resin coat all would be better than a metallic surface.//

Yes, but it's got a better thermal conductivity than fiberglass. I'm thinking a metal would be better than plastic in transferring heat to the surface from the sled.
-- shapu, Feb 07 2005


Hmm. Yes. You're probably right.
-- bristolz, Feb 07 2005



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