Upper Peninsula Luge Club (Negaunee, MI)

See Upper Peninsula Luge Club for details and a video. The Lucy Hill Naturbahn Luge Track is the only certified natural ice track in the United States. It is 812.8 meters long with 29 curves. A natural track differs from an artificial track because it is non-refrigerated, the racing surface is flat rather than banked, and it follows a very twisting route through a forested area. Natural ice luge sleds differ from artificial ice sleds in that they are more flexible and somewhat easier to steer, have sharp rather than dull runners, and construction is different as well. Racing and steering techniques are different as well; natural track lugers occasionally sit up, lean side-to-side, and drag their hands or feet on the ice to control their descent. Speeds in natural track luge can hit 60 mph.

• Open to the public on weekends. The bottom 1/6th of the track (445 feet) is open to the public on winter weekends. Cost: $10
• Club membership. If you plan to use the Lucy Hill Track more than once, or plan to luge from higher on the hill, you should join the non-profit Upper Peninsula Luge Club. Fees go toward maintenance of the track, and as a member, you will be asked to participate in Lucy Hill luge activities and maintenance tasks. Cost: $25 (single); $45 (family)

Equipment

When you’re just starting out, the only gear you might want to buy for yourself are elbow and knee pads. You should dress warmly since you’ll be outdoors the whole time, and wear an old jacket, since luge is hard on clothes. Helmets and sleds will be supplied by your club or team. When you feel you’re ready to purchase your own gear, check with your coach (or the US Luge Recruitment and Development Department) to get professional advice about sizing, and to take advantage of team discounts and reduced prices.

Elbow And Knee Pads

Available at sporting goods stores. Cost: $20 to $30

Helmet With Full Face Shield

In international competition, all racers are required to wear the same standardized, high-tech helmet, manufactured by UVEX. Face shields are made of a polycarbonate material and designed to be shatter-proof. Cost: $250 to $350.

Speedsuits

These bodysuits are custom made to fit each racer like a second skin. This skin, however, is specifically manufactured for aerodynamics and speed, using slick, high-tech fabrics. Lower-priced suits are for training and are made from Spandex. Cost: $150 to $350.

Gloves

Gloves are skin tight and thin. Cost: $25 to $65.

Spikes

Spikes no longer than 4mm are embedded either in the fingertips or knuckles (athlete’s preference) of each glove for “paddling” the ice during the start of the race. Cost: $30 to $50.

Booties

Aerodynamically designed with a skin-tight fit and no tread on the bottom. They weigh only 3.9 ounces each. For training, athletes wear “training booties,” which are heavier and have a rubber tread on the sole. Cost: $100 to $160 .

Sled

The maximum allowable weight for a singles sled is 50 pounds; doubles sleds are 59.4 pounds. Each sled is built specifically to fit each individual athlete, and every country’s national team carefully guards their technological secrets of sled construction. Cost: $800 to $1,000 (New), $400 (Used) .