The country’s top young sliders will return to the Utah Olympic Park this weekend for the Norton U.S. Junior National Championships March 7-8.
Following a weekend in which Park City siblings Ashley and Jake Farquharson captured the Youth “A” national titles, becoming the first brother/sister duo to accomplish such a feat, it’ll be the juniors turn this weekend at the UOP.
Highlighting the competitions will be a trio of sliders who, along with Tristan Jeskanen, captured a team competition bronze medal at a Junior Luge World Cup event at the UOP in December — Elijah Pedriani, Raychel Germaine and Justin Krewson.
Also in the mix will be locals like Brittany Arndt, Duncan Biles and Alanson Owen, among others.
Jon Owen of USA Luge said the track at the UOP is shaping up to be in great condition for the weekend’s competitions.
“It’s finally gotten cold,” he said. “It’s been interesting this week. Most of the kids are moving up a start [toward the top of the track] and having to go faster, so the kids who are from here and race here more are doing better, but it’s definitely a challenge.
“[The track] isn’t slow and it’s not frosty — it’s fast ice. It promises to remain so through the weekend, too.”
The junior classification is for racers 18-20 years old, but Owen said there will be several youth racers moving up a classification for the weekend.
“Some of the better of the younger group can race up,” he said. “It just tops out at 20.”
Owen said he hopes for a great weekend of racing, especially after last weekend’s youth titles provided such a thrill thanks to the Farquharson siblings.
“It was a good weekend,” he said. “Ashley came out strong. She’s among the younger of the sliders, born in 1999. Jake had a great weekend, too. He had a little benefit in that one of his competitors was disqualified and that got him on top of the podium, but it was tight racing.”
The tight racing should continue this weekend, Owen said. The events are free and open to the public, he added.
“If anybody makes a mistake, the next one is right there,” he said. “There’s only hundredths of a second between them. Anything can happen — it’s racing. Hopefully we’ll have a good weekend of racing and everyone will make it down safe.”
Saturday’s competitions start at 10 a.m. at the UOP. Sunday’s finals begin at 3 p.m. Races can also be watched live at www.usaluge.org .