Become A Member

Mareks Galilnovskis

The following Divisions and Classes of membership acknowledge the various segments of interest and their degree of commitment. Select Individual Membership or Family Membership.

For Division A (Athlete Class), U.S. citizenship is required. Permanent residents are eligible, provided their waiting period for citizenship (as defined by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE")) will expire prior to the next Olympic Games. You may only select one class. If two or more classes apply, select the one that is most appropriate to your situation. It is a U.S. Luge Association membership requirement that each athlete, without reservation or condition, must submit to drug testing “In Competition” at selected events; “Out of Competition” at elite-level camps, team training and at USOPC facilities and “Out of Competition” anytime for athletes designated by the USLA as part of luge’s Out of Competition Testing Pool.

ATHLETE DIVISION (A): $50

Athletic Membership: Individual members (excluding masters athletes) who have actively participated in a sanctioned athletic program of the USLA within the previous or current season, or who have represented the U.S. in the Olympic Winter Games, World Championships, or World Cup Races (hereinafter referred to as Major International Luge Competition) within the preceding ten (10) years.

GENERAL DIVISION (G): $ 50

Any individual who wishes to support the activities of the Association, including retired athletes and masters athletes, who do not qualify for membership in any other individual membership category. Non-citizens who wish to join as an athletic member, must join in this category.

OFFICIALS DIVISION (O): $ 50

This classification is for “Active” FIL or Nationally certified officials only. “Active” is defined as those Officials who have worked at a minimum of one race the preceding season and have also attended a refresher course within the past two seasons.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP: $ 125.00

All Family members must sign up at the same time and reside at the same address to benefit from this rate. Note: you must still indicate on the membership form the family members eligible and which Division each individual is in.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE REGULATIONS: This insurance policy is a “Primary/Secondary” policy which means A) If you already have your own health insurance, ours is available to you only as a secondary policy at no charge. You must make claims on your personal policy first; or B) If you have no health insurance of your own then you are required to secure your own or buy it from us for a $50.00 fee. Our policy covers luge related accidents only and not illnesses. The maximum benefit allowable is $25,000 for accidents and the policy has a deductible. We advise you to secure your own health insurance since the type of personal policy you might secure will usually cover illnesses as well as accidents. Again, our policy is for luge related accidents only.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) WHAT DOES MY MEMBERSHIP COVER?
The membership fee entitles you to: track use when scheduled through your club; coaching; use of USLA training equipment (i.e., sleds, helmets, etc.); access to the USLA indoor start facility; the USLA Newsletter; a membership card, pin and decal; and secondary accident insurance coverage while sliding. Primary accident insurance coverage (while sliding) may be purchased for a nominal charge.

2) DO LAKE PLACID AND PARK CITY HAVE THE ONLY LUGE TRACKS IN THE U.S. OR ARE THERE OTHERS?
Lake Placid, NY and Park City, UT currently have the only refrigerated, full length Olympic style luge tracks in the United States. There is a natural track in Negaunee, Michigan (800 meters in length), and a small training track in Muskegon, MI (upper portion is 200m, lower portion is 125m). Finally, there is a combined, refrigerated Olympic style track in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics and a track in Whistler, BC, Canada built for the 2010 Olympics. This brings the number to four, full length, Olympic style runs in the western hemisphere.

3) WHEN ARE THE LUGE RUNS OPEN?
The luge runs at Lake Placid and Park City are scheduled to open in early to mid fall and close sometime in early March. The length of the luge season is based on weather conditions as well as financial consideration by the state authorities, which own each facility. Track time must be scheduled through your club a minimum of three weeks in advance. The runs in Muskegon and Negaunee are open for variable periods because their primary consideration is the weather. You must contact the respective club listed on the back of this form for access to each of the tracks.

4) WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING IS AVAILABLE AND WHEN MAY I TRAIN?
USLA member clubs offer both winter and summer training programs to current USLA members who are eligible to participate. The program content depends on the individual club, but may include wheel training and start practice in the summer and ice training, start practice, physical training and sled maintenance in the winter. In the summer, the USLA also conducts a nationwide recruitment tour that introduces the sport to young athletes ages 10-14 using wheel-equipped sleds.

5) WHAT IF I CAN’T COME TO LAKE PLACID OR PARK CITY?
If you are closer to Muskegon or Negaunee/Marquette, you may want to investigate ongoing programs available at those locations. The club in New York state uses the Lake Placid track and the club in Utah uses the Park City track. See the club addresses listed on the back of this form for more information.

6) HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD THE SERIOUS ATHLETE EXPECT TO DEVOTE TO LUGE TO BECOME COMPETITIVE ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL?
Athletes who are internationally successful usually have a minimum of about 8-10 years experience under their belt. This assumes you have devoted your entire winters (October - March) to the sport on a daily basis, and possess the necessary skills. It also assumes that you remain active during the entire off-season and follow a regimented training program.

7) HOW YOUNG/OLD IS THE AVERAGE LUGER AND WHAT IDEAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD A LUGER HAVE?
Our sliders' ages have ranged from 5 to 75. To compete as a junior you must be between 15 and 20, and to compete as a general class athlete, you can be 16 or older. We have found that our typical National Team member or elite slider averages in their low twenties. It has been our experience that there is no typical luger. They come in all sizes and shapes; tall and short, slender and bulky. It is not the size that counts; it's the overall physical condition, innate athletic ability, and experience that make for a good luger.

8) WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
To begin, we advise people not to invest in equipment unless it’s elbow and knee pads - use your club’s or ours. When you have some experience and decide to buy your own, check with the US Luge Recruitment and Development Department. Sleds can range anywhere from $400 for a used one to $1,200 or more for a new one. Other major equipment would eventually include a helmet and faceshield ($300), a speedsuit ($350), booties ($210), and spiked gloves (100) (spikes & gloves sold separately). For the convenience of its members, and when feasible, the USLA may have some of this equipment in stock and for sale.

9) WHAT ABOUT HOUSING IN LAKE PLACID OR PARK CITY?
Housing is available at the Olympic Training Center for “qualified” team athletes only. We advise all others to call the the Lake Placid Visitors Bureau (518-523-2445) or the Park City Chamber of Commerce (801-649-6100) . They have listings of all motels, sport houses, and rental agents in town.

Donate

Please click here to make a donation to support the athletes and programs of USA Luge. The United States Luge Association is a 501c-3 Your tax-deductible contribution will help us in our efforts to recruit, develop, train and support athletes to represent the United States in all luge competitions, from youth races to the Olympic Games.

Info and Forms

If you prefer, you can download, print and mail in your Membership form. If you plan to slide, you must also provide a current USA Luge Waiver & Release of Liability, a current physical (using our form), Code of Conduct and Concussion Policy Form. All forms are required every year and must be submitted to USLA a minimum of 2 (two) weeks before you plan to slide. A "Sliding Permit" will be issued to you once all required paperwork is in to the USLA.