Muskegon Youth Luge Team
Riley Stohr  Whitehall   Age 12Â
      When Riley was 10, he came home from school with a brochure, and he asked what Luge was. His mom and dad explained what it was. He said that’s what he would like to try for his winter sport. Both his mom and dad, born and raised near Ludington, MI, never even knew there was a track 20 minutes from their house. When he finished his first run, his dad asked him what he thought. He said he wasn’t sure but thought he should try it again. He made his next run and was hooked.Â
      Towards the middle part of the 2007-08 seasons, Helen (mom) had been taking Riley to practices. One night they came home after practice, Helen came in and said “They want him to go try out at Lake Placid for the Luge Team.†Dan (dad) said “What are you talking about he’s only elevenâ€. Helen explained to him how if the coaches here think he has the demeanor, athleticism, and talent. They can request him to be placed in a screening camp, to try out for the USA Developmental Luge Team. Neither parent ever realized till then, that the Luge Club was a launching point for a possible Olympic career. Â
      We are all looking forward to the 2012 first ever Youth Winter Olympics, which will take place at either Innsbruck, Austria or Kuopio, Finland. They will select a two-year age bracket for each discipline. Riley will be 15, so if they pick the 14-15, or 15-16 age brackets, he would have a chance of representing the USA in the Youth Olympics.Â
      None of this would be possible if it were not for all the wonderful people at the Winter Sports Complex. The number of people who are certified race officials, and the knowledge that they bring to our local track amazed us. It was interesting to see our track operating just like the track at Lake Placid. The way the announcers call out where each slider is on the track, when the track is clear, and the times. It truly is amazing that here, in West Michigan; we have this great opportunity for our youth to experience this extreme sport, and possibly a chance to represent our country.