Regional

Luge Slider Search: The Verizon-USA Luge Slider Search, open to boys and girls aged 11 to 14, will be held Sept. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. on Portland Street between Fort Street and Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford. Participants will train under the guidance of USA Luge national team coaches and athletes.

During a Verizon-USA Luge Slider Search clinic, USA Luge coaches and athletes teach youngsters the basics of riding a luge sled, including position, steering and stopping. Armed with the basics, the young athletes make several runs down a paved luge course. Finally, the youngsters measure their physical skills through a battery of fitness tests.

Those who show the most promise at the clinics are invited to train in Lake Placid, N.Y., or Park City, Utah. They also will be considered for the 2009-2010 USA Luge development team.

Currently, most of USA Luge’s national team are graduates of the Slider Search, including Brian Martin of Palo Alto, Calif., a 1998 Olympic bronze and 2002 Olympic silver medalist. The search also produced eight members of USA Luge’s 2006 Olympic team, including the entire three-member women’s squad.

The cost is $15 per youngster and includes a Verizon USA-Luge T-shirt. For complete information and to register , call 1-800-USA Luge.