USA Luge to host International Start Competition to kick-off the EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup in Lake Placid
by Lauren Howe
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. –World-class luge athletes from around the globe will kick-off the EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup season in Lake Placid with an international start competition at the USA Luge indoor start training facility. The event is organized by the International Luge Federation and USA Luge.
In advance of the December 8-9 EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup in Lake Placid, most of the athletes competing will take part in a week of open training, creating the opportunity for the event. The competition, which will take place on Friday, December 1 at 6:00 PM ET, will offer a chance for international athletes to slide at the state-of-the-art start training center.
Three-time Olympian Tucker West (Ridgefield, Conn.), who secured an 11th win at the Norton USA Luge Start Championship this past August will be racing. 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist Chris Mazdzer (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Emily Sweeney (Lake Placid, N.Y.) are expected to be among the entrants. In doubles, Team USA is expected to be led by Zack DiGregorio (Medway, Mass.) and Sean Hollander (Lake Placid, N.Y.) in men’s doubles, with Chevonne Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Sophie Kirkby (Ray Brook, N.Y.) in the women’s doubles division.
Each sled will complete two starts—a normal luge start, and a reaction start using the start gate for the Team Relay—with two runs added together to determine the total time. All national teams may enter two sleds per event for the men’s and women’s singles race and men’s and women’s doubles race. The top three athletes in each discipline will receive a monetary prize.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend the international start competition at the USA Luge headquarters, located at 57 Church Street in Lake Placid. For those not able to attend in-person, the “FIL Studio” will provide extensive, on-site coverage via its YouTube and social media channels.
The 2023-2024 World Cup season will kick-off in the United States December 8-9 in Lake Placid. After a trip to Latvia and Norway, the team will be in Lake Placid and Whistler, Canada, over the next few weeks in preparation for the 2023-24 World Cup campaign.