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Verizon Slider Search Q & A
Q: What is the Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search?
A: The Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search is the official, national USA Luge athlete recruitment tour. The mission of this program is to identify, train and qualify young athletes for the USA Luge Junior Development Team
Once on the Junior Development Team, athletes will progress through the six-run development ladder and ultimately, have a chance to become members of the Senior National and Olympic Luge Teams. Those who show promise in the summer program are invited to Lake Placid, NY, Park City, UT or Marquette, MI to luge on the real deal.
Q: Who can take part of the Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search?
A: As USA Luge uses this program to help recruit athletes for their developmental teams, it seeks young athletes, boys and girls, ages 11 - 14. By starting at such an early age, the athlete will have more time to develop their skills in a sport where experience translates into success on the track. However, we also place strong emphasis that all young athletes have fun while participating in the sport.
Q: When and where will the Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search events take place?
A: Typically, Verizon and USA Luge host between eight and ten events over the course of the summer (May - September). Verizon and USA Luge work together to determine the optimal locations, based on recruitment tour objectives and selection criteria which include level of community support, timing and weather considerations, as well as athlete availability. Check back soon for more information on dates and locations for the 2007 Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search.
If you are a community events planner and are interested in hosting a Slider Search event, please contact USA Luge Marketing Director, Gordy Sheer at gordy@usaluge.org.
Q: How does the Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search Work?
A: The Verizon - USA Luge Slider Search events takes place on Saturday and Sunday. Each day of the program is split into two, three-hour sessions: 9:00am - 12:00pm and 2:00pm - 5:00pm. During each session, participants are taught the basics of riding a luge sled by USA Luge National Team coaches and athletes. Once these skills are developed, athletes take several runs down a paved luge course on wheel-equipped luge sleds. At the end of the session, the coaches assess the athletes' physical skills through a number of different fitness tests.
Individuals must register and sign a waiver (a parent or legal guardian must attend the clinic with each athlete) in order to participate in the Slider Search program. The registration fee is $15 for each session and includes a Slider Search t-shirt courtesy of Verizon. Individuals can either register in advance by calling 1-800-USA-LUGE (Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted) or on the day of the event (cash only). However, because there are only 20 available spots per session, we recommend registering in advance as the program does tend to fill up. Because of the possibility of event cancellation (see below), USA Luge does not charge your credit card until the completion of each session.
In the event of rain or inclement weather, the Slider Search staff will make best efforts to hold the event. If the weather creates unsafe conditions (subject to the Slider Search staff's discretion), the clinic can be cancelled. Because of the permits required for this event and the complexity of the organization, any clinics that are cancelled will not be rescheduled.
Q: Which athletes get selected for the Junior Development Team? How do I know if I've been selected?
A: Athletes are selected from the Slider Search clinics using three criteria
First, the coaching staff rates athletes based on how they performed during the on-sled portion of the clinic. Qualities the coaches look for are the athletes' ability to assume a comfortable, aerodynamic position on the sled, steering control through a slalom course, "coach-ability" (ability to follow directions and make improvements), braking technique, enthusiasm and body size.
Second, athletes receive an objective score during a small battery of fitness tests. These tests include chin ups, medicine ball chest toss, an agility test, sit & reach and standing long jump.
Third, and perhaps most important, athletes are evaluated on their desire to slide and their passion for the sport.
During the Slider Search tour, the coaching staff periodically reviews the sliding evaluation and scores of each and every athlete. The athletes who performed best on BOTH the sledding AND physical testing portions on the clinics, and show the most commitment and desire, receive an invitation to a screening.
Selections for the screening camps take place periodically during the Slider Search schedule and athletes are notified by mail sometime during the fall whether they have earned an invitation to the next level.
For more information on the development team selection process, please visit USA Luge's website at www.usaluge.org.
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