I was watching the Luge on NBC over the weekend. I thought it was boring, especially when juxtaposed against the more dramatic events, like curling. The color commentator kept explaining how each “slider” was doing something slightly better or worse than the others, but to my untrained eye, they all looked the same: feet first, very fast, disappearing around another curve. I was so worried that one of them might wipe out and fall down the chute, sledless, but none of them did.
Every once in a while, though, I’d look up and think, that looks like fun — for some people. Not for me.
But it did make me wonder: if someone in Lower Merion decided they actually wanted to try this, where would they go?
As it turns out, the answer involves a fairly long drive.
Why You Can’t Do This Locally
Unlike skiing, skating, or hockey, luge isn’t something you can try locally or even regionally. The sport requires a refrigerated track built specifically for sliding sports, and there are only a handful of those in the United States. None are anywhere near Pennsylvania or the Mid-Atlantic.
For someone living in Lower Merion — or anywhere in the Philadelphia area — the closest place to learn is Lake Placid, New York, about a five-and-a-half to six-hour drive depending on traffic and weather.
Where People Actually Learn
Lake Placid’s Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex, originally built for the 1980 Winter Olympics, remains one of the primary training centers for USA Luge. The facility offers introductory programs for beginners, along with development programs for those who want to continue beyond a one-time experience.