Step 4: Luge Maintenance Aside from volatile weather, other
things such as particles of grass and flecks of dirt that litter
the course can jeopardize its integrity, attracting sunlight and
acting as heat sinks. Falk extends the life of the luge by
scouring the course for stray particles. Sometimes, dicey curves
call for experimental methods. In one section of Falk's luge,
the terminal curve under the trees in his sketch, he inserted a
ping-pong table into the wall of the curve to fortify it. "It
all started because we didn't want the kids to go in the creek,"
Falk recalls. "I stuck a little bench beside the ping-pong table
and leaned it on a 45-degree angle and packed snow under and
around it." If there are trees or other backyard hazards
flanking any of your curves, try reinforcing the walls with a
firm object. Falk also suggests padding potential threats with
foam or bales of hay.