Lake Placid, NY - January 4, 2016 - As the top luge athletes from around the world compete in Europe, USA Luge will bring the thrill of the sport to ski and board areas in the Northeast over the coming winter months.

Using easy to maneuver plastic sleds, patrons at three ski and ride resorts will get the opportunity to learn the sport of luge. This winter’s sites are: Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass. (Jan. 9-10); Blue Mountain in Palmerton, Pa. (Jan. 30-31); and Belleayre in Highmount, N.Y. (Feb. 6-7).

Visitors to those areas will get a chance to experience this exciting Olympic sport through the USA Luge Challenge.

Team coaches and athletes will scout each event for young athletes who show potential. These youngsters may be invited to participate in screening camps at a USA Luge training facility in Lake Placid, N.Y. or Park City, Utah.

Sochi Olympian and current World Cup leader Summer Britcher, of Glen Rock, Pa., was discovered in a USA Luge Challenge nine years ago at Ski Liberty in Pa.

Those youngsters as fortunate as Britcher will have the opportunity to learn the sport on ice in the Olympic villages that hosted the Winter Games in 1932, 1980 and 2002. 

Families and winter sports enthusiasts who attend these weekend events can experience the Fastest Sport on Ice® in a safe slope-side setting, with help from USA Luge Olympians, international medalists and coaches. Participation in all USA Luge Challenges is free, and no experience or lift ticket is required. Registration begins at 9 AM each day. Competition takes place at 1 PM.

After learning the basics of accelerating, steering and stopping from USA Luge athletes and coaches, adults and children, age 10 and older, can take practice runs down a track complete with curves and timing equipment.

In addition, fans can enjoy a live DJ/emcee and prize drawings while participants spend the afternoon tackling the course in a race against the clock to win valuable fun prizes from USA Luge and each host resort. Prize suppliers will also include undergarments from CW-X and USANA protein bars.

Since 1996, the USA Luge Challenge has introduced the sport to thousands of fans nationwide.

This year, U-Haul will enable USA Luge to make the trip from team headquarters in Lake Placid, N.Y. to each Challenge with their sleds and equipment.

For more information on the Fastest Sport on Ice®, log on to www.usaluge.org.