NEGAUNEE, MI — At UP Luge club in Negaunee, Michigan, they're bringing thrills to all who come to their track.
“You think oh yeah this is easy, this is easy and then you throw a couple curves in, the snow starts to fly and the laughing starts,” said the. UP Luge Club president, Robb Cookman.
The luge club has the only full-length natural track in the United States. In the Olympics it’s artificial. But speeds on both tracks are off the charts.
“The maximum speed on the competition side is about 60 miles an hour," Cookman said. "They get moving on it, but they also have a lot of corners. With the 29 corners that we have, that means we have a lot of breaking and a lot of cornering. It’s not just get on and go.”
“The thrill of the speed is really unexplainable," said Will Dixon who was trying luge for the first time. "You can feel it right in your body.”
The Olympics brings exposure to niche sports, the luge is no different and people are flocking to the UP.
“On the Olympic years, we have a lot more people coming out," Cookman said. "We’ve had a lot of publicity this year and between Christmas and New Year's it was one of the best turnouts that we’ve had. We’ve been full almost every session.”
Getting the hang of the sport is no easy task. Turning with your feet – using your right foot to go left and left foot to go right and trying not lean, is tough on the brain. You want to try the whole track? Good luck.
“You may spend the whole year on the bottom half trying to mast the corners," said the Luge Club president. "It takes a long time to get to the top and put the corners together so you can do a sequence.”
At the track I met people from all over the midwest – all trying it for the first time, but the staff will help you get of the hang of it.
“This place is beautiful and people so friendly and warm, definitely coming back here,” said Green Bay resident Roy Moreno who brought his son to try out the sport.
The UP Luge club is normally open until the first week of March. It’s $15 for youth age 15 and under. Its $25 for 16 and up.
