Team USA’s Sophie Kirkby, left, and Chevonne Forgan finish a run during the FIL Luge World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland in February.
(Provided photo — Mareks Galinovskis, FIL)
USA Luge National team members Chevonne Forgan of Chelmsford, Massachusetts and Sophie Kirkby of Ray Brook are preparing for their first-ever FIL World Cup in Lake Placid. The World Cup will take place on Dec. 8 and 9 at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
The duo now live in the Lake Placid area and compete together in women’s doubles luge. Being on their home track at the start of the season, the doubles team not only doesn’t have to worry about travel but also already possesses experience on every turn of the track.
“It’s definitely a technical track, and we love it,” Forgan said.
Another big plus they’re both anticipating is the turnout. Being regulars at races around the world, they don’t often see familiar faces.
“I can’t wait to see a bunch of American spectators,” Kirkby said. “It’ll be great to see familiar faces and get a bunch of cheers.”
–
Visuals
–
While luge has been an individual sport for decades, doubles luge converts it to a team sport. Turning and steering a luge sled requires countless little movements of the legs and feet, shifting of one’s weight and making small shoulder movements — the combination of which helps a doubles luge team navigate the track safely in the fastest possible time. Those vital but completely unseen moves are the recipe for…
