Races

Individual runs down the course, or heats, begin from a standing start, with the crew pushing the sled for up to 50 metres (160 ft) before boarding; though the pilot does not steer, grooves in the ice make steering unnecessary until the sled leaves the starting area. While poor form during the initial push can lose a team the heat, it is otherwise rarely, if ever, decisive. Over the rest of the course, a sleighs speed depends on its weight, aerodynamics, runners, the condition of the ice, and the skill of the pilot.Race times are recorded in hundredths of seconds, so even seemingly minor errors especially those at the beginning, which affect the remainder of the heat can have a measurable impact on the final race standings.The mens and womens standings for normal races are calculated over the aggregate of two runs or heats. At the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships, all competitions (for both men and women) consist of four heats.