Sailing Schedule
USA Luge announces the fourth annual Running of the Balls
Fundraising event brings luge and lacrosse to Olympic Sports Complex
It’s time once again for the Running of the Balls (ROTB). Pandemonium will follow when more than 1,000 blue and yellow lacrosse balls are released from the start gate and speed down the Olympic Sports Complex luge track.
Wait. Blue and yellow?
Yes. Can you imagine the reaction when the “race within the race” lets loose a collection of blue-colored balls simultaneously with the yellow? The additional race of blue lacrosse balls will give the owner of the fastest ball a free trip to the 2019 World Championships in Winterberg, Germany, courtesy of Bucket List Events.
The official hospitality partner of USA Luge, Bucket List Events will add this grand prize for the ROTB. As many as 120 distinctive blue-colored balls will be sold and released within the general population of yellow balls. The first blue lacrosse ball will win that fabulous trip to the winter sports mecca of Winterberg, Germany. The winner will be able to cheer on USA Luge at the biggest event of the year, set for January 25-27. The trip includes airfare, hotel, room and transportation for two. The balls cost $25 each.
These two lacrosse ball races will occur concurrently on Saturday, Dec. 15, immediately following the first day of the Viessmann Lake Placid World Cup luge weekend.
Men’s singles and doubles events will precede the yellow and blue Running of the Balls. The women’s singles and all sprint events will take place the following day.
Participants can purchase both colored balls online via the USA Luge home page (www.usaluge.org).
These unique and fun initiatives were created to help support the athletes and programs of USA Luge and has raised over $10,000 in each of the previous three editions.
This marks the fourth ROTB; the last edition a year ago that saw over 1,000 lacrosse balls negotiating the nearly one-mile course down Mount Van Hoevenberg. The lacrosse balls were donated by Summit Lacrosse, based in the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake region.
Fans will be able to participate in these unique events by entering as many blue and yellow balls as they’d like in this twoof- a-kind race that benefits the organization’s athletes.
Cash and prizes from USA Luge sponsors will be offered for the top 10 yellow balls, as well as the last place ball. Media sponsors include the Lake Placid News, 93.3 WSLP-FM and Adirondack 105.
Casella Waste Management is a gold level sponsor. Event sponsors are Margarita Sears, Bear Essentials and the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. Long-time ROTB supporters Hoffman Auto of Lake Placid, Hotel North Woods and High Peaks Resort have also joined the sponsorship family.
On-site fans will be treated to coverage on large screens thanks to the International Luge Federation, Carr-Hughes Productions and the N.Y. Olympic Regional Development Authority.
Fans can watch the live stream of the event on The Olympic Channel or www.usaluge.org with start time to be determined.
Fans will be able to buy yellow balls for $10 each or three for $25. Yellow ball prizes will be awarded as follows:
1st place: $500 and a Yetti backpack, a Timex watch, a USA Luge t-shirt, beer mug and pin and a Travelers Choice hard case
2nd place: $300 and a Yetti backpack, a Timex watch and a USA Luge beer mug
3rd place: $200 and a Yetti backpack, and a Timex watch
4th place: $150
5th place: $100
6th place: Quest Nutrition gift box and a White Castle certificate
7th place: a Timex Watch
8th place: Quest Nutrition gift box and a White Castle certificate
9th place: White Castle certificate
10th place: A Timex watch
Last place: $100 and a USA Luge t-shirt
Deadline for purchase of balls is tomorrow, December 13, 2018.
