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Slide Into Action With Verizon and USA Luge at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl
By Jon Lundin // U.S. Luge Association // February 20, 2007
Mt. HOOD, Ore. – Verizon and USA Luge are challenging winter sports fans to experience the thrill of luge and take a shot at glory during the Verizon Luge Challenge at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18.
Families and winter sports enthusiasts who attend the weekend event can experience the Fastest Sport on Ice® in a safe slope-side setting, with help from USA Luge international medalists, athletes and coaches. Participation in the Verizon Luge Challenge is free, and no experience or lift ticket is required. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
After learning the basics of accelerating, steering and stopping from USA Luge athletes and coaches, adults and children, aged 10 and older, can take practice runs on a recreational version of a luge sled down a track complete with curves and timing equipment. In addition, fans can enjoy a live disc jockey, prize drawings (including a pair of roundtrip airline tickets from JetBlue Airways) and complimentary refreshments, while participants spend the afternoon tackling the course in a race against the clock to win valuable prizes. The prizes will be provided by Verizon and sponsors Panasonic, LG, Columbia Sportswear and CW-X. As an added bonus, first-place adult finishers from each mountain will be entered into a grand-prize drawing to win a 65-inch-screen, high-definition plasma TV, courtesy of Panasonic. The drawing will be held near the end of March, shortly after the final weekend of the program is completed and all results are tabulated.
Additionally, coaches and athletes will be scouting each event for athletes who show potential. These athletes may be invited to participate in screening camps at a USA Luge training facility in either Lake Placid, N.Y.; or Park City, Utah.
Since 1996, the Verizon Luge Challenge has introduced the sport to thousands of fans nationwide. This year, with the help of U-Haul, the Verizon Luge Challenge will hit both coasts with stops in New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington.
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