17 Sep Public invited to USA Luge Start Championship on Friday, Sept. 19
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – No less than eight United States Olympic luge team members will be in action on Friday, Sept. 19, in the USA Luge Start Championship. The team’s annual on-ice competition will be held on the refrigerated training ramps at team headquarters.
The event, to be held at 57 Church Street in Lake Placid, tests luge racers in the all-important explosion off the start handles which begins all luge races. Cash prizes will be at stake. Start time is 6 PM and the public is invited to attend.
Athletes expected to compete include Erin Hamlin, Julia Clukey, Chris Mazder, Tucker West, Aidan Kelly, Joe Mortensen and Riley Stohr.
“The athletes spend the summer months getting physically stronger at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, and getting faster on our ramps,” said USA Luge Sport Program Director Mark Grimmette. “This event gives them and the coaching staff a gauge as to where they are in their pre-season preparation.”
Upon completion of this event, a number of national team athletes will start eyeing Lillehammer, Norway for the first full-length, on ice sliding of the fall season. That camp will be held from Oct. 1-12 on the 1994 Olympic track.
Thereafter, the team will begin training on the demanding course at Mount Van Hoevenberg, outside Lake Placid, when the course opens in mid-October. The layout is the site of a World Cup meet Dec. 5-6 which will bring many of the international stars of the Sochi Winter Games to Lake Placid.
The Norton National Championships will be held Nov. 1-2 in Lake Placid. For more information, visit usaluge.org.
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