Wheel Clinic
The Summer Wheel Clinic is a program the United States Luge Association has held for the past 23 years to recruit young interested youth to try the Olympic sport of luge. We hold this program throughout the country and here locally in Park City. The local Park City area clinics are run by the United States Luge Association, the National Governing Body, in partnership with the Wasatch Luge Club.
The clinic activities are as follows: Participants are between 9-14 years of age. These clinics are intended to show proper steering and stopping techniques on a specially equipped wheel luge sled. Participants start slow and low on the hill by first just going straight and learning to stop. As the session progresses they are moved up the hill, given more speed, and taught how to steer properly. Finally, participants are given a course of cones to navigate through. Maximum speeds reached are about 25 mph. The clinics are focused on skill development and evaluation. They are not intended to be a “thrill ride”, though they are a whole lot of fun. After the sliding portion has ended we administer a quick physical test of flexibility, long jumping, and a medicine ball toss.
The program is for the staff to evaluate the participant’s abilities and for the participants to try the sport in a safe controlled setting to see if they wish to continue with the sport during the winter.
The United States Luge Association supplies sleds and helmets. Participants need to wear old sneakers (no open toed sandals) and comfortable summer-wear. There is walking up hill involved so water bottles are also advised.
Opportunities
Utah Olympic Park/Utah Athletic Foundation Olympic Legacy Camps
The Summer Wheel Clinic is offered in conjuction with Utah Olympic Park's Olympic Legacy Camps. Olympic Legacy Camps offer participants (ages 9-14) the opportunity to try 10 Olympic sports (including luge) in four days. Olympic Legacy Camp dates for 2008 follow. To register for Olympic Legacy Camp please click on the registration link below.
July 8-11 (9th Luge in AM)
July 15-18 (16th Luge in AM)
July 22-25 (23rd Luge in AM)
July 29-August 1 (30th Luge in AM)
August 5-8 (6th Luge in AM)
Call 435-658-4208 for more information.
United States Luge Association Clinics (Free of Charge)
August 6 6:00-8:00 PM
September 8 6:00-8:00 PM (**cancelled**)
For more information or to register call the USA Luge office in Park City 435-647-3800.
Other opportunities will become available, check back to www.wasatchluge.org
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