You steer a luge sled with very small, precise body movements—mainly your calves, shoulders, and head, not by yanking the sled like a regular snow tube.

Basic idea

  • You lie on your back, feet first, keeping your body as flat and still as possible.
  • On straight sections you try not to steer at all so you stay fast and stable.
  • You only steer in curves, and even then the movements are subtle rather than big dramatic shifts.

Main steering controls

1. Calves and legs

  • The sled’s runners are connected so that pressure from your calves flexes them slightly.
  • To turn right : you press a bit more with your left calf to flex the runner and guide the sled that way.
  • To turn left : you do the opposite—more pressure with the right calf.
  • These are your “big” steering inputs when you really need to change line in a corner.

2. Shoulders and upper body

  • You add gentle pressure with your shoulders into the direction you want to go—right shoulder for right, left shoulder for left.
  • This slightly shifts your weight over one runner, helping it bite into the ice and turn.
  • If your feet and shoulders don’t work together, you can accidentally “counter-steer” and make the sled wiggle or skid.

3. Head and overall body line

  • Lugers will often turn their head slightly into the curve first; the rest of the body “follows” that line.
  • Top athletes talk about steering as a full‑body action running from head, through shoulders and torso, down to the legs and calves.
  • The goal is one smooth, connected movement rather than separate jerks.

What it feels like on track

Think of it like this:

  • On straights:
    • Stay still , relaxed, and flat to be aerodynamic.
    • Any extra movement = friction and tiny zig‑zags that cost speed.
  • On curves:
    • Start the steer early and gently.
    • Use a combination of:
      • Small head/shoulder lean into the curve,
      • Calf pressure on the opposite leg,
      • Maintaining a tight, flat position so the sled doesn’t bounce.

A doubles team will even split duties a bit: the front slider initiates the steer with head and upper body, while the rear slider adds extra power through the legs and contact with the sled.

First‑timer vs Olympic steering

  • First‑timers / public tracks
    • You’re taught simple cues: press one calf, lean a bit with the shoulder, and avoid sudden moves.
* Focus is on control and safety at much lower speeds.
  • Elite racers
    • They chase an almost “perfect line” through each curve and make constant micro‑adjustments with their whole body.
* The art is steering _just enough_ —too much or too late and you lose time or risk hitting the wall.

TL;DR: You steer a luge sled by lightly pressing with your calves on the runners and adding subtle shoulder and head movements into the turn, staying as still and streamlined as possible on the straights.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.