LOWER TOWAMENSING TWP., CARBON COUNTY — Blue Mountain Resort will bring its own World Cup circuit "thrill" to the Lehigh Valley area this weekend.
The resort will hold the Winter Fest Luge Challenge with the "only unrefrigerated luge course in the east," Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26.
The event — presented by Massey Ferguson/Eklund Farm Machinery — will be free and aims to encourage the public to try the sport.
Registration will begin at 10 a.m. each day.
"Team coaches and athletes will be looking out for young athletes who show potential."USA Luge release
Experience isn't required — participants will learn the basics of accelerating, steering and stopping from USA Luge athletes and coaches.
Afterward, participants ages 9 and older can take practice runs down the track.
"Team coaches and athletes will be looking out for young athletes who show potential," a release from USA Luge said.
"The youth may be invited to participate in screening camps at a USA Luge training facility in Lake Placid, New York."
The release says current National Team athlete and World Championship silver medalist Frank Ike was discovered at Blue Mountain.
Farther west, Summer Britcher, a three-time Olympian was discovered in 2006 at a USA Luge Challenge at Liberty Mountain Resort in Fairfield, Adams County.
The event also will have a live DJ/emcee and prize drawings.
So far, two other USA Luge Challenge sites have been announced. They are:
- Feb. 1-2: Titletown Winter Games at Ariens Hill (1025 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, Wisconsin)
- March 1: Luge Challenge at Plattekill Mountain (469 Plattekill Road, Roxbury, New York)
