It's a big weekend for many of our younger sliders.

The Empire State Games are getting ready to kick off in Lake Placid,
with a number of our younger sliders competing on Sunday.

Meanwhile, out in Park City, the Youth Nationals are underway.  Aaron
Barge and Vinnie Simkin are among those competing otuu west.

I look forward to hearing the results from all of them!

Jim Murphy

...in the Files section.

> Wow, congratulations!!!!!

It's hard to explain too.  The track was exceptionally rough tonight.
  There was a BIG bump coming out of 14 that had most of us going
airborne off our sleds for an instant.

The temp outside wasn't that cold, but the ice was pretty hard; I
found I really had to work to keep the back end of my sled settled
under me.  I would have expected that if it were -5 out, not when it
was 15 or so.

Jim

Please join me in sending congratulations to Michela Harlow, who
officially became a U.S. Citizen this week!

Welcome and Congratulations Misa!

It was a fast track today, as many sliders set personal bests!

Conrgats to Misa Harlow (46.278), Eric Babitch (47.369), Brett West
(47.421) and Jim Murphy (46.549).

I have spoken with Nancie, the photographer who was out at the track
shooting that evening.

She shot nearly 100 pictures that night, and she's going to put
together a contact sheet for everyone to review.  If you like
something, she'll be able to sell you a copy.

Most of us have never had our picture taken by someone with 30+ years
experience shooting luge...

I don't come that way, but others on the group here may.  Once you
know which weekends you want to come up, post a note and see if you
can make a connection.

Jim


--- In adk-luge@yahoogroups.com, "smh254" <ynotb7@...> wrote:
>
> Great Jim - thanks for all the info.
>
> I went skydiving for the first time last Thanksgiving and it inspired
> me to get out and try all new sorts of adventure sports. Sliding seems
> like another adrenaline pumper that's definitely more within my budget.
>
> Are there any ride share programs? Does anyone come up from the NYC
> metro area? Since I live in Manhattan, I never got around to buying a
> car :-)
>

Great Jim - thanks for all the info.

I went skydiving for the first time last Thanksgiving and it inspired
me to get out and try all new sorts of adventure sports. Sliding seems
like another adrenaline pumper that's definitely more within my budget.

Are there any ride share programs? Does anyone come up from the NYC
metro area? Since I live in Manhattan, I never got around to buying a
car :-)

Hello "smh":

You'd need to download and fill out the USA Luge and the Luge Club
paperwork.  That's simple.  Since you're in the Yahoo group, go into
the "Files" section of the web site and you can find the 4 required
forms in the "Membership Forms" folder.

Three of them go to USA Luge, one goes to the Adirondack Luge Club.

Part of that is a standard sports physical with your doctor - depends
on how quickly you can get in to see him/her.  If you've had one
recenly for another sport, they might even be able to simply fill out
the form for you.

Once that's sent along, it takes about 2 weeks for USA Luge to process
your sliding permit.

We can take on new sliders just about any session, so that's not an
issue.  And we're sliding into April this year, so there's still time.

My first season, I slide once right at the end - that was enough to
get me hooked.  I suspect we could get you on the track in a couple
weeks - the physical is usually the hardest part to get scheduled.

The schedule of sliding sessions is also in the "Files" section, under
"Club Races and Sliding Sessions / 2007-Sliding-Roster.htm"

Hope to hear from you soon.

Jim Murphy

So how long would it take a luge newbie to get registered and get all
his materials to start sliding?

If I sent my materials in next Monday, do you think I would be set to
start sliding in mid-March?

Also, when does the track close for the season? Is it worth the money
do apply now so late in the season?

I live in NYC, so I wouldn't be able to come to the track every weekend.

The article about Luge, and the club, is in the NY Times today.

It's easy to fine... go to www.nytimes.com

You'll see Misa's picture... right there, no the Front Page!

Jim

--- In adk-luge@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Murphy" <jim_murphy@...> wrote:
>
> As interesting as this might seem, the idea of another city getting
> the games (and building yet another track in the U.S. for us to slide
> one) would be attractive and exciting.
>
This will obviously hinge on what happens in 2016. Word on the street
is that Peter Uberoth will lobby hard for LA, but that Chicago has a
pretty decent bid package. If either city wins the bid for the Games,
we won't see a winter games in the US until 2024. The folks at
Reno/Tahoe took a swing at 2002 but lost out to SLC. The Games in LP
would be great - a return to the more intimate feeling Olympic of the
past. But then again, a third artificial track would be great.

As interesting as this might seem, the idea of another city getting
the games (and building yet another track in the U.S. for us to slide
one) would be attractive and exciting.

Feb 7, 2007 (NY TIMES) RENO-TAHOE COURTS SUPPORTERS

A Reno-Tahoe coalition has begun building support for a possible 2018
Winter Olympic bid around Lake Tahoe, site of the 1960 Games.

A group of businesspeople and politicians known as the Reno-Tahoe
Winter Games Coalition on Tuesday won unanimous support from the
Placer County (Calif.) Board of Supervisors to pursue the plan.

Yesterday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office signaled he would
consider supporting a bid if the United States Olympic Committee
pursues the 2018 Games.

"The governor is always supportive of anything that would be of
potential economic boost to California," Aaron McLear,
Schwarzenegger's spokesman, said. "He is currently working to bring
the 2016 Summer Olympics to Los Angeles and would consider any other
events that would benefit California."

Jim Vanden Heuvel, the coalition's chief executive, estimates the
region would need $1.6 billion in improvements to play host to the
2018 Games. Bobsled and luge runs, a ski jump and at least one indoor
facility would have to be built, he said.

The Olympic committee will probably decide within two years if it
wants to make a bid for the Games. The former hosts Salt Lake City and
Lake Placid, N.Y., have also expressed interest. Denver, which was
awarded the 1976 Winter Games but withdrew as host because of a lack
of financing, is also preparing a bid.

> If you get a chance, click on the "Polls" button on this site. I
just put up a very important poll.
> Inquiring minds want to know...

Haven't seen my bumper sticker, have you?

"How's My Sliding?  Call 1-800-81-HEART"

If you get a chance, click on the "Polls" button on this site. I just put up a
very important poll.
Inquiring minds want to know...

-Brett

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
adk-luge group:

Will Jim "81" Murphy have 2 clean runs at the 2007 Master's Race?

   o Of course, he is sliding great this year
   o 50/50 at best
   o Not a snowball's chance in heck!


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adk-luge/surveys?id=12520055

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Not sure many of you are aware yet, but Daylight Savings Time begins
earlier now.  Starting in 2007, it will begin on the Second Sunday in
March.

That's significant, because that is the USA Luge Master's Race Day.

So, sports fans...that "8am" race start time will feel like 7am, will
be dark like 7am, and most importanly, will be COLD like 7am!

Can you say BRISK?!!!

Murph

The awaited article with photos may be viewed starting Friday 2/16 at
www.nytimes.com

Ted

The session results for Feb (sorry for the delay) and Feb 10 are now
posted in the Files section.

Murph

Actually, no.

Empire State Games has been a real moving target; we don't have any information
about when training or racing would be.

In fact, USA Luge has been a little frustrated in their ability to get
definitive track availability times from ORDA as well.

I've communicated to them that timely information is critical for those who
travel distances to slide.

You have the best informaion I have, and all that I have at this point.

Jim


>From: gardener_12 <dmlogan@...>
>Date: 2007/02/06 Tue PM 04:14:30 CST
>To: adk-luge@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [adk-luge] Re: Empire State Games - Youth Opportunity

>
>Jim,
>Do you have any idea of the times available to slide.  My two
>teenagers would be interested, but we would appreciate knowing more
>details in order to plan.
>Thank you,
>Donna
>
>

Jim,
Do you have any idea of the times available to slide.  My two
teenagers would be interested, but we would appreciate knowing more
details in order to plan.
Thank you,
Donna

$30 I believe

>From: larryrodman <larryrodman@...>
>Date: 2007/02/06 Tue AM 08:09:25 CST
>To: adk-luge@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [adk-luge] Re: Sliding Season Coming Up

>
>Does anyone know the cost for the single day track pass? Last year it
>was $25. Thanks
>
>--Larry
>
>--- In adk-luge@yahoogroups.com, "csource_brett" <bwest@...> wrote:
>>
>> Folks:
>>
>> Just a heads-up, I bought my track season pass last week, they
>raised it to $200 this year
>> (up from $125.) Still a heck of a deal (compared to ski areas) if
>you ask me.
>>
>> See you all soon.
>>
>> -Brett West
>
>

Does anyone know the cost for the single day track pass? Last year it
was $25. Thanks

--Larry

--- In adk-luge@yahoogroups.com, "csource_brett" <bwest@...> wrote:
>
> Folks:
>
> Just a heads-up, I bought my track season pass last week, they
raised it to $200 this year
> (up from $125.) Still a heck of a deal (compared to ski areas) if
you ask me.
>
> See you all soon.
>
> -Brett West

We have an opportunity for Youth sliders (up to 17 years old)  to
participate in the Empire State Games.

While this is not a guarantee, there is an opportunity for our younger
sliders, provided we have enough interest.

The deadline for this is February 12th.   That's only a few days away,
but there is a window of opportunity.  This must be faxed to the USA
Luge Office at 518-523-4106, no later than Feb 12th.

The form has been placed into the Files section of the web site, under
the "Empire State Games 2007" folder.

Sorry for the short notice, but this is a late-breaking development.

Jim Murphy

Announcing the 2007 Adirondack Luge Club Race
Featuring the Inaugural "Adirondack Challenge"

The annual Adirondack Luge Club Race will take place on March 24, 2007
from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Lake Placid.  In addition to the Singles
race, this year marks the debut of the "Adirondack Challenge" team event.

The singles competition will be a 2-run, combined time race contested
in three disciplines: Senior Masters, Masters, and Youth categories.
  The final determination as to the exact age breakdown for each will
be made by the race officials prior to the start of the event,
depending on the make-up of the field, to insure an adequate number of
participants in each discipline.

The Adirondack Challenge will be a team event, consisting of 2-sled
teams judged on their combined times.  The Adirondack Challenge will
have two categories: Parent/Child and Open.   The Parent Child
category will be reserved for teams consisting of one parent and one
child (related to each other).  The Open Category will be available
for teams consisting of one adult (20 and over) and one youth slider
(under 20), separated in age by at least 20 years.

Assignment of teams in the Open Category will be by random draw prior
to the event from pools of interested sliders in the two age groups.

The format of the race evening will consist of four runs.

Run One will be a training run, with no bearing on the outcome of the
race.

Runs Two and Three will be combined and the times used for the Singles
race.

Run Four will be for sleds participating in the Adirondack Challenge.

The club officers reserve the right to adjust the format of the
evening or the events to accomodate time constraints or other factors
beyond our control.

Please, mark your calendars.  Kids, grab your parents, it's not too late!

# # #

Hey guys, I spoke to Beverly at USA Luge today. The Empire States Games will
have the Senior
National Teams, Jr. National Teams, and the Candidate Select teams competing.
Even though
we can't participate this year, it is well worth watching. I will be there.
(Tony, Ashley and the
gang will be competing.) The "Mens Open" category is from Start 1. Double good
thing I am
not competeing!

Regarding the Youth Open category. I am signing Tucker up to compete in this
category at
ESG. (From Start 4.) If enough kids sign-up, they might be able to hold that
category.  As of
now, it is in the air. Any and all ADK Luge Club kids should sihn-up. The more,
the more
likely they get to race.

-Brett West