Whiteface Luge — Photo courtesy of © ORDAThere are only a few days a year when the Olympic Sports Complex in scenic Lake Placid, New York lets the public try out the luge. But if you can be there on one those days, you’ll get to experience a sport most people only watch on TV during the Winter Olympics.
After instruction and safety lessons, participants will get to ride the luge – a flat slide ridden in a laying down position, and steered with your calves. You’ll whiz down a breathtaking ¼-mile of the smooth but curvy, iced track under the supervision of the complex’s professional luge coaches.
When the luge is offered, it’s typically from 5:30-7 p.m., and costs $65. You have to be at least 13 years old to try it. Dates on the 2013 calendar so far include Jan. 19 and March 2.
Because of the luge’s limited availability, most winter visitors to Lake Placid’s Olympic Sports Complex opt for the bobsled or skeleton rides, which are also fun adventure and also for teens and children. The high-speed sleds are sometimes described as “your childhood sled on overdrive.”
Another popular option is the complex's toboggan run -- a recycled ski jump that's like an amusement park log ride. The run has two tracks that run side-by-side, and they guide the toboggan as it goes over the top of the hill and shoots the riders out onto frozen Mirror Lake. Fun, spinning finishes are not uncommon.
The natural scenery of Lake Placid in the gorgeous Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, only enhances the experience. But, keep in mind, these outside sports can be cancelled due to weather conditions. No matter what type of Olympic sled you end up on, chances are you’re in for a wild, fast and fun ride.
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