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A message from Ted Elmendorf:

So you want to go sliding?

Here is an outline of steps to follow:

1. Join the US Luge Association by filling out the application form
and waiver.  Next, then sign the Code of Conduct for US Luge.  Next
you will need the US Luge Physical Form to be filled out by your
physician.  It must be the US Luge form, and be complete. This form
can be downloaded from www.usluge.org or call/write US Luge
Association, 57 Church St, Lake Placid, NY 12946  (518)523-2071.

2. You must join a Luge Club, preferably the Adirondack Luge Club. 
This application and waiver can be downloaded from our website
www.adirondacklugeclub.org

3. US Luge will issue you a sliding permit, and ADK Luge will put
you on our active list.  If you don't have a sliding permit and/or
are not a member of a club (and can prove it) you will not be
allowed to slide at club sliding sessions.

4. Sign up for sliding sessions with Jim Murphy at
Jim_Murphy@...  phone (603)673-0136.  We need to submit a
roster of sliders to US Luge one week prior to the beginning of a
session.  We are not limiting the number of sliders per session and
welcome sliders assigned to development teams (provided they are
club members).  I have more concern with having enough sleds to
assure a session starts (5 minimum) than with having too many
sleds.  We can easily handle 12-15 sleds.  If your plans change (we
understand that this happens) NOTIFY JIM IMMEDIATELY.  If you are
sled #5 in a session and you no-show with no notification, the other
four sliders will have traveled to the mountain for nothing as the
session will likely be cancelled.  Also, if we know we are going to
be short of sleds we can do something about getting enough sleds for
the session, or, worst case, tell the remaining sliders to stay
home.  US Luge and the Club have both made significant efforts to
see to it that these sessions were available (and, trust me, earlier
in the summer our season didn`t look promising). We need to get the
membership up there to slide. Our future as a sliding club is very
much on the line if this doesn`t happen. 

5. Pay for your session and show up at the sled shed at Mt. Van
Hovenberg  a minimum of  one hour before the scheduled start of the
session.  You should warm up, stretch, check and adjust equipment
during this time and get your assignment in the start order.  If you
need more time for this, get there earlier.  If you need special
instruction, get there earlier.  If you need equipment, get there
earlier.  GET THERE EARLIER. Get it?  In years past we have had
sliders show up as the last truck was headed up the hill and they
expected the whole show to stop for them to get their acts
together. 

6.USLA is supplying us with coaches, and ORDA with a professional
track operations and maintenance crew.  They deserve your courtesy,
respect and cooperation.  They are trying to do the job of showing
us a good time and keeping everyone safe. 

7. Our sessions this year will be limited to two start locations to
better the flow of the session.  If we have sliders going from Start
5, they will get preference over anyone that wants to go from Start
3.  This subject to change by ORDA or USLA, but trying to go from 3
starts has always resulted in lost time in the past. 

Rates:  Day pass: $25 adult
                   $10 junior
        Season pass:   $125 adult
                        $50 junior

Day passes must be purchased before 4 p.m. on the day of sliding.

I'm sure that I have left stuff out, but between this posting and
what Jim has already put out, everyone should have a good outline of
what they need to do.  I do not exaggerate when I state that our
future as a Club may well be determined by the level of
participation that we display in this winter's sessions. 

We need to sit aside any differences we may have had in the Club and
get back to the business that this Club should be all about;
sliding, and having a great time doing it, not to mention sharing
the experience with a tremendous group of unique and interesting
people.

I welcome your comments and ideas and encourage all member's
participation in your Club.

Ted