LUGE: Inexperienced Australian slider Beth Slade has completed her first full day of luge training at the Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer.

In cold and fast conditions she made the most of the three training runs as every run on the ice gives her more experience.

After a mixed day of training she was off to sit with her International Luge Federation development coach to review footage from the session.

“I’ll go and review the video now and talk about the areas to improve and I’ll keep working to get better and better,” Slade said with a smile.

The 15-year-old was relaxed and positive despite crashing on her third and final run of the day on the last sweeping corner.

“My first run was okay and probably my best of the day. My second I tried to drive harder into corners 12 and 13 which worked better but overall not quite as good.

“On the third run I crashed in corner 14…. but I’m fine. I’m good at not hurting myself if I come off my sled.”

Slade crashed at the Junior World Cup race in Lillehammer at the start of the season in October but she is not fazed by that as she knows she is on a steep learning trajectory after only having her first run on a track 11 months ago.

The girl from Caves Beach on the New South Wales coast in Australia will have a further three training runs on Saturday, before a rest day on Sunday and her two competition runs on Monday.

Her parents have travelled over 30 hours to watch their daughter fly around ice corners on the intimidating track that held the Olympic Games back in 1994.

“It was great to see mum and dad at the Team Welcome yesterday,” Slade said. “At the start of the season I had three months away from home so it is really great that they are here to support me and watch me compete

Andrew Reid
olympics.com.au