We're huge on the luge
After every Winter Olympic, some of the sunny So Cal stunt junkies get a hankering to try out some of the crazy stuff they've see on T -- beyond the snowboarding. The bump in participating in stuff like the bobsled, the skeleton and the luge is key to the sport's survival, and finding the thrill seekers who may be future Olympians -- mostly, the ones who have no shot at becoming a gold-medalist in track and field or swimming or ping pong.
Four years ago, we wanted to try out for the U.S. Luge team, but the one-day event out in Long Beach fell on a day where -- OK, we went to the beach that day instead. There was no way we'd make the team, or even felt like submitting ourself through that tryout humiliation.
But coming up, at last, the U.S. Luge teamsays it's looking for future participants. They're holding an "Official Athlete Recruitment Tour" that stops in Santa Clarita on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26-27, for kids 11 to 14 (sorry, no old fat slobs need apply).
By the way, did you know the street luge, which used to be part of the X Games, is a sport that originated in the Santa Clarita area and is still going strong, according to its Website....
Read on for more details:
From the official press release:
--Young athletes who want to experience the thrill of luge, the Fastest Sport on Ice®, and train under the guidance of U.S. Olympic and national team coaches and athletes can do so when the Verizon-USA Luge Slider
Search rolls into Santa Clarita Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26-27.
WHAT: Each three-hour clinic is designed for boys and girls, ages 11-14. USA Luge national team coaches and athletes use a traveling ramp and wheel-equipped sleds to teach youngsters the basics of riding a luge sled including proper positioning, steering, and stopping. Each clinic concludes with young athletes testing their physical skills through a battery of fitness tests. Those who show the most promise at the Verizon-USA Luge Slider Search clinics are invited to train on ice next winter. They will also be considered to the 2007-08 USA Luge development team.
Entry fee for the Verizon-USA Luge Slider Search, the official athlete recruitment tour of USA Luge, is $15 per child (includes a souvenir tee shirt courtesy of Verizon). For more information or to register a youngster, log on to www.usaluge.org or call 1-800-USA-LUGE.
WHERE: Centre Pointe Parkway near Ferry Court. From State Route 14, take the Golden Valley Rd exit and go north one mile. Turn left on Centre Point Parkway and one one-quarter mile, the clinic is one Centre Point Pkwy. From Interstate 5, exit at Valencia Blvd. and go east for four miles through the town center. The name of the road changes to Soledad Canyon Rd., which intersects with Golden Valley Rd., the site is just south of this intersection.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26-27, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 5 p.m.