Team USA’s Ashley Farquharson competes in the 2023 FIL luge World Cup in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

LAKE PLACID — The international luge elite will be competing at Mount Van Hoevenberg today and Saturday. In all, 38 women, 44 men, 14 women’s doubles and 20 men’s doubles teams from 16 nations have registered for the FIL Luge World Cup.

In addition to the World Cup races, the 15th America-Pacific Championships will be held in race-in-race mode. The second of three mixed World Cups is also on the program for Saturday.

Luge athletes last competed on the challenging track at Mount Van Hoevenberg in 2023. The track is approximately 1,455 meters long, has 20 curves and a vertical drop of 294 feet. It is known for its challenging curves and high-speed sections, which make it a very attractive track for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.

In 2029, Lake Placid will host the FIL World Championships for the third time after 1983 and 2009, exactly 20 years after the last World Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

“We were last in Lake Placid two years ago. Some will now notice that it looks completely different there because the renovation work, which is actually scheduled to take four years and be completed in time for the 2029 World Championships, is already in full swing,” FIL Sports Director Matthias Böhmer said in a press release. “You can see significant changes because, for example, new roofing and curve formwork have been created, and what were previously small curves are now large curves thanks to the roofing. Lake Placid will be another challenge shortly before Christmas. Then everyone can take a short breather before continuing in Sigulda.”

USA Luge fans will be reunited with their local heroes, led by Summer Britcher, Ashley Farquharson and the men’s doubles team of Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander, who recently took the podium in Park City and finished third in the team relay. Britcher in particular had reason to celebrate: She claimed her sixth World Cup victory and the 50th for USA Luge in front of her home crowd, exactly 10 years after her first World Cup victory, which she also achieved in Park City.

“I feel so good. It’s been quite a while since I’ve stood on top of the podium, so I can’t even describe it; it’s just incredible,” Britcher said in a press release about last weekend’s gold medal. “And to do it here with my family and to share the podium with Ashley, the only thing better than getting a podium is sharing the podium with a teammate. One thing I realized over my lengthy career, is, that every Olympic experience, every Olympic season and trials has been very different. In some ways they are similar, but they are all unique. This year I am really trying to focus on just being present. Sounds cliche, but enjoying the process, enjoying each race. We had a very long pre-season, and then found ourselves finally racing in Cortina. It felt like what? We are here, we are racing already? How did this happen? Like, we just started sliding. So, taking that in, and instead of looking ahead and looking at the future, I am trying to enjoy each moment, because I think its going to be making the team or not making the team. Cortina is going to come to the blink of an eye, and its going to be time for team USA to race and show up. Thats why I am trying to make the most of every moment.”

With a total of eight top 10 finishes, Team USA can look back on a successful race weekend and hopes to continue this success in Lake Placid, the official U.S. training center.

Those interested in seeing the World Cup action at Mount Van Hoevenberg can purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/ys6ckx7s.

Today

3 p.m. — Men’s Doubles — Run 1

3:49 p.m. — Women’s Doubles — Run 1

4:45 p.m. — Men’s Doubles — Run 2

5:27 p.m. — Women’s Doubles — Run 2

6:30 p.m. — Women’s Singles — Run 1

8:05 p.m. — Women’s Singles — Run 2

Saturday, Dec. 20:

Noon — Men’s Singles — Run 1

1:25 p.m. — Men’s Singles — Run 2

2:45 p.m. — Mixed Doubles

3:49 p.m. — Mixed Singles

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Running of the Balls

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On Saturday, more than 1,000 lacrosse balls will cruise down the Mount Van Hoevenberg track to support USA Luge athletes and programs. The organization’s 11th annual Running of the Balls fundraiser will take place following the conclusion of the World Cup races.

Olympic doubles luge silver medalist Gordy Sheer, who is the director of marketing and sponsorship at USA Luge in Lake Placid, said he hopes the event will raise more than $35,000 this time around.

The thousands of lacrosse balls will be released from the top of the luge track, and people can both watch and participate by purchasing as many balls as they’d like in the race. There will be cash and prizes from USA Luge and its sponsors will be offered for the top 10 balls and the last-place ball for the usual yellow, white and orange balls.

This year, there will be a special race, featuring blue-colored balls, that will award a trip to watch USA Luge athletes compete in Italy next February. USA Luge and its sponsors will take care of all travel, ground transportation, lodging and everything needed to cheer on the team.

There will also be another race, celebrating 1998 honorary team captain Mojo Nixon, an accomplished musician, who died in 2024. The winner of that race will receive a copy of Nixon’s debut album, which Pravda Records is re-issuing along with Nixon’s entire catalog, and an autographed cymbal signed by Nixon’s band the Toad Liquors. There will be 98 Mojo balls sold in honor of the year Nixon was the team captain.

The regular balls are offered at $15 each or three for $35. The blue-colored balls and Mojo balls can be purchased for $35 each.

The event is USA Luge’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

To enter the fundraiser race, scroll to the bottom Running of the Balls page on USA Luge’s website at tinyurl.com/3a8bmv4a.

The prizes for the top 10 regular balls, plus the last-place ball, are as follows:

1. $1,000 and USA Luge Cortina Spirit Package — Karbon Team 2026 Cortina Jacket, USA Luge Milan-Cortina Pin, USA Luge autographed poster

2. $500 and Traveler’s Choice carry-on and backpack set

3. $300 and Gordini gloves

4. $200 and Karbon 2025-2026 National Team lightweight puffy jacket

5. $100 and USANA Gift Pack

6. Icebug gift certificate for one free pair of winter shoes (studded boots, studded running shoes or winter rubber versions of either) with free shipping anywhere in the U.S.

7. 2025-26 Norton National Team podium hat set plus USA Luge umbrella

8. USA Luge T-Shirt and Beer Glass and Duck Brand tape pack

9. White Castle swag bag

10. Team Worldwide-USA Luge T-shirt

Last place: $100 USA Luge T-shirt