Street Luge (aka... landluge, roadluge) is the result of skateboarders laying on their boards instead of standing on them. Such high speeds were achieved, riders needed special "brake" shoes to stop and full crash gear for safety. Before long the boards evolved into longer "dropped" designs for maximum speed and greater control. The lower CG (center of gravity) and decreased wind resistance make for a ride that is as exciting and fast as many motorsports.
The Street Luge is a very simple craft designed to ride downhill at speeds normally reserved for the motorsports. The design of the Street Luge allows a pilot to ride close to the road, minimizing air drag and maximizing the feeling of greater speeds. The lean to steer piloting and the Flintstone-style braking offer far more control than one would expect resulting in an exciting, adrenalin charged flight powered only by the pull of gravity.
There are many MANY street luge designs out there. This is most likely because the majority of street luges are "home-built". Some designs work better than others, the best being the one YOU are currently riding. Throughout the GSU "campus", you'll be seeing the Noreaster Street Luge featured.
DECK - the chassis of the Street Luge has to be strong and relatively flex free. In the past, wood street luges we're often inadequate, once considered unprofessional and dangerous. New designs and manufacturing methods of wood street luges have not only eliminated this misconception but have proven to be even better than the classic metal designs. The Noreaster Street Luge decks used by GSU are 13 plys of ridiculously tough hardwood pressed into a sleek dropped shape. The simplicity of this design coupled with the strength and quality of laminated hardwood make the Noreaster Sport Street Luge the perfect training vehicle for our Gravity Sport University students.
TRUCKS - The Street Luge is steered by leaning. All street luges are equipped with lean activated trucks that are the standard in the skateboard industry. Street Luge generally requires tougher and wider trucks than commonly used with skateboards. GSU uses Randal Trucks on ALL of our Gravity sport gear because they get the job done. The Randal Trucks are modified to meet the demands of street luge with stronger kingpins, beefier bushings and a flipped hanger to lower the streetluge to increase stability.
WHEELS - The Street Luge requires a tougher wheel. Urethane wheels are the standard for skateboards, classic luge and street luge. The wheel must withstand the heat generated as a result of the higher rpms a street luge wheel will achieve. Softer urethane, usually with a durometer (the measure of "hardness") of 75a to 80a is the best, maximizing grip on the road surface. Generally, street luge wheels run between 70mm to 90mm in diameter. GSU uses ABEC 11 wheels as they have proven their worth time and time again on the race track.
