Luge - Utah Olympic Park Luge is the French word for sled, but in this sport it also means speed, precision and daring. Historical findings point to the existence of sleds as early as 800 AD with the Vikings in the Slagen countryside near the Oslo Fjord. The Vikings are believed to have had sleds with two runners, which resemble the modern-day version. The first international sled race occurred in 1883 in Davos, Switzerland, with 21 competitors from Australia, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The first World Championships occurred on an artificial track in Oslo in 1955. Fifty-two sliders from eight nations competed under the auspices of the International Bobsled and Toboggan Federation (FIBT). Two years later, the International Luge Federation (FIL) was founded in Davos and remains the governing body of luge today Back to top