US Junior National Development team

Muskegon Junior Team

Currently in Italy with the Jr National team USA LugeÂ

Jake’s story of his first visit to the MWSC can all be “blamed” on Wayne Baird. Wayne is the Youth Program Director. Wayne and Vanessa, Jakes mom were walking out of work one day, and Wayne was like a little kid going home to open presents, because it was the first say of the season for youth luge that night. He told Vanessa all about it on the way out to their cars. Vanessa literally had not heard of the luge even though they live just down the street. Vanessa knew it sounded like something Jake would truly love to do, so they went over and signed up with the club that night. Jake fell in love with the sliding immediately; by the second run he came to his mom and said “I think I was born to do this, Mom!” When Wayne decided to take the Club to Lake Placid the next year, Jake started talking about how cool it would be to sort of follow in Mark Grimmette’s footsteps. Vanessa told him it was a “nice dream” to dream of being in the Olympics, but Jake said it’s “more than a dream Mom, I really want to do this!” His first run at Muskegon Winter Sports Complex was in 2004. He was named to USLA Development Team in 2005, and to this day, he still feels like he “was born to do this!”

There has been an incredible amount of support from the Luge Club Family, which Jake has taken to heart. He really wants to make everyone from the Muskegon Winter Sports Club proud of him. He is so ecstatic to be racing in the Jr World Cup this year.Â

From Vanessa:

The thing I really like about it is that it’s a sport where everyone involved gets excited for whoever is on the sled…you can just feel the fun even if your just watching the slider…it’s like whoa (as you watch them whiz by), then, Way Cool (whether they crash, or come flying to a stop after a perfect run)!!!

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 eleven”. 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.