Does an athlete's proficiency at luge depend on his mass?

Question

I was watching the men's [luge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luge) ride with my dad. My dad said, the mass of the athlete must be at an optimum level so that he wins. I said, his volume should be minimum, but it has nothing to do with the mass, as the acceleration is independent of mass. Is it just like any other "block on an incline" problem? Or am I wrong?

Answer 1

Air drag is related to volume, but friction between the sled and the track depends on weight. Another factor to whether the man wins is his ability to shift his weight during turns. This requires strength and skill, and requires consideration of dynamics to model.