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Become a Member of USA Luge

General Information

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; the USLA Bulletin, 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, bringing the number to three, 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 USLA Clubs 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 11-14 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 4 to 70. To compete as a junior you must be between 15 and 20, and to compete as a senior you can be 16 or older. We have found that our typical National Team member or senior 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 $900 or more for a new one. Other major equipment would eventually include a helmet and faceshield ($200), a speedsuit ($300), booties ($120), and spiked gloves ($80) (spikes & gloves sold separately). For the convenience of its members, and when feasible, the USLA may have much 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.

 
Membership Information & Forms

2008-2009 Membership Information and Form

Physical Exam Form

Code of Conduct Form

 

Membership Classifications

The following Divisions and Classes of membership acknowledge the various segments of interest and their degree of commitment.

For Athlete Class A, B, and C, U.S. citizenship is required. Permanent residents are eligible, provided their waiting period for citizenship (as defined by the U.S. INS) 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 USOC facilities and “Out of Competition” anytime for athletes designated by the USLA as part of luge’s Out of Competition Testing Pool.

Athletic Membership: (Class A, B, C, G, or Y) An Athlete is an individual who has actively engaged in a sanctioned athletic program of the USLA within the previous or current season, or who has represented the U.S. in the Olympics, World Championships, or World Cup Races (hereinafter referred to as Major International Luge Competition) within the past ten years.

Class A (A): $ 30.00 Current Senior National Team, Senior National Team Select, Junior National Team,
Junior National Team Select, and members of the most recent Olympic Luge Team
(‘06).

Class B (B): $ 35.00 Athletes not qualified for Class A, but who are enrolled in a current USLA development
program leading to the National Team level. These athletes must have actively engaged
in a sanctioned athletic program of the USLA within the previous or current
season, or have represented the U.S. in Major International Luge Competition within
the preceding ten years.

Class C (C): $ 45.00 Athletes not currently qualified for Class A, or not qualified, or interested in Class B,
but who have actively participated in a sanctioned athletic program of the USLA within
the previous or current year. i.e., masters or a club program.

General (G): $ 45.00 Athletes who do not fulfill any of the above three requirements for classes A, B, and C
will be placed in this category, i.e., First Time Member. Non-citizens who wish to join
as an athletic member, must join in this category.

Youth Athlete (Y): $ 35.00 If you are 14 years of age and under, you are eligible for the Youth rate. However, if
you are a member of any Junior team, i.e., Junior Candidate, Junior Development,
then you will be placed in Class “B”.

Non-Athletic (N) : $ 45.00 Individuals who wish to support the sport of luge; retired athletes; volunteers; race
officials; professional athletes in any sport; and anyone else not noted who would
otherwise not qualify for the Athletic Division.

Officials (O): $ 35.00 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 since July 1, 2004.

If you slide at all (even recreationally), but are also an official, your classification is as an athletic member and you must
register as a C or G. If you select any of the above Athletic Classes, you are obligated to inform the USLA immediately if
your eligibility/athletic status changes for any reason.

Family Membership: All Family members must sign up at the same time to benefit from this rate.
Deduct $ 5.00 from the total of the individual costs for two family members.
Deduct $10.00 from the total of the individual costs for three family members.
$100.00 Four or more family members.

Corporate (CM): $500.00 Entitles the corporation to 15 pins and decals, the USLA Newsletter, and the use of
their membership status in corporate literature.

Kreisel Klub (K) $1,000.00: The contributor is entitled to a special “Kreisel Klub” jacket in addition to all the
regular membership items. Membership will be extended to all immediate family
members, but only one jacket will be distributed per contribution.

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. MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
USA Luge
57 Church Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946-1805
1-800-USA-LUGE
1-800-USA-LUGE