LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - It was a good day for Ray Wierzbicki, winner of the USA Luge Running of the Balls, held following the December 15 men’s and doubles Viessmann World Cup luge race.
"I am thrilled to win my first gold on the luge track,” noted the famously humorous Wierzbicki. “All of my focus and many hours of hard training have paid huge dividends. I look forward to the "International" ROTB event where I can compete on the world stage!”
Mr. Wierzbicki generously donated his $500 winnings back to the organization.
The event raised over $10,000 to support the athletes and programs of USA Luge. Close to 1,000 lacrosse balls, all donated by Summit Lacrosse and Tri-Lakes Lacrosse, were release down the track. It was a bouncy trip, with about ten balls flying out of the track.
Event sponsors included Gold-level supporters High Peaks Resort, Casella Waste Management, and Hotel North Woods; Silver-level supporters Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Margerita Sears, Upstone Materials and The Summit Hotel; Bronze-level supporters Mountain Dental, Burnham Benefit Advisors, Lake Placid Family Dental Wildwood Hotel, The UPS Store and Bear Essentials.
As a part of their sponsorship, all of the above supporters received entries in the race.
USA Luge would also like to thank our media partners, the Lake Placid News and 93.3 WSLP FM.
And the winners…
1st place: $500 and a hat from Duluth Trading Company, a U.S. Venture hat, a White Castle insulated coffee mug and voucher: Ray Wierzbicki
2nd place: $300, a U.S. Venture hat, a White Castle insulated coffee mug and voucher: Stephen Smith
3rd place: $200 a U.S. Venture hat, a White Castle insulated coffee mug and voucher: Randy Robertshaw
4th place: $150 a U.S. Venture hat, a White Castle insulated coffee mug and voucher: Brandon Suttle
5th place: $100 a U.S. Venture hat, a White Castle insulated coffee mug and voucher: Wild Wood Hotel
6th place: Travelers Choice large hard case luggage: Golden Arrow
7th place:Timex watch: Ruth and Joe Sherk
8th place: Small Travelers Choice roll aboard luggage: High Peaks Resort
9th place: Minus 33 socks: Jack Elder (1972 luge Olympian)
10th place: Duluth Trading Company baseball hat Jay Nice
The 49th ball down the track won a fishing trip to Alaska. Courtesy of IFishHainesalaska.com: Christopher Hilbert
Last place: $100: Kenn Runninger
Look for the next edition of the Running of the Balls during our next World Cup event.
With the conclusion of the Lake Placid World Cup and Olympic team selection procedure, some of the PyeongChang-bound athletes decided to take some extra training runs in Lake Placid, N.Y. and Park City, Utah prior to the Holiday break. Summer Britcher, Emily Sweeney, Chris Mazdzer and Tucker West all took runs in Lake Placid, while Taylor Morris hit the ice in Park City. By December 21, all extra training had ended and the athletes took their much needed Holiday break.
On December 28, the team will head over to Europe in advance of the four remaining World Cup events to be held on consecutive weekends in January. Races will be held in Koenigssee, Germany, Oberhof, Germany, Lillehammer, Norway and Sigulda, Latvia.
The final race of the World Cup can be seen on NBC Sports Network, while all races can be seen live ontheolympicchannel.com.
