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Lots to do in Lake Placid as summer moves along
As the years have gone by, Lake Placid has become more and more, an event-driven community.
The summer officially began with the 2 annual horse shows into early July.
Two weeks ago, we hosted over 2,800 Ironman triathon competitors.
Last weekend, over 100 teams were in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid for a 3-4 day period.
As this event left the area, Lake Placid has now become a lacrosse town with the nation's largest scholastic and adult tournaments, featuring male and female divisions. There is a total of 150 teams.
Action began today at 3 sites: Northwood School, the North Elba Show Grounds, and on the property just off Recycle Circle.
There is no charge for any of this exciting action.
OLYMPIC RELATED
The London Summer Olympics officially started Friday, but for one winter sports organization based in Lake Placid, it's always winter.
The U.S. Luge Team has called Lake Placid home for over 30 years. It has an interesting recruitment system that could be lots of fun for families staying at the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa.
Each Thursday at 4:30, the team brings sleds on wheels to Recycle Circle, off Route 73 on the edge of town. Youth are invited to ride these sleds down gentle roads at the site. USA Luge has national team coaches and athletes on hand to instruct the youngsters before they ride down the course themselves.
If the coaches like what they see, a kid could be invited back in winter to learn the sport on ice. They will even stay at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here in Lake Placid and get the full Olympic treatment. And from there, who knows!
Virtually every national team racer was discovered in this manner, including Erin Hamlin, of Remsen, N.Y., who is a two-time Olympian and 2009 World Champion. She might even appear and be your child's coach.
For more info, call 1-800-USA-LUGE and speak to Fred Zimny.
NEED A WORKOUT?
In June, cyclists raced to the top of Whiteface Mountain's Veterans Memorial Highway, in Wilmington. In September, it will be the runner's time to conquer the eight-mile climb to the summit of New York State's fifth highest peak.
As many as 200 running enthusiasts from the northeastern United States and Canada are expected to participate in the 35th annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Foot Race.
For the first 34 years this popular event was run in June, preceding the uphill bike race, but this year, organizers moved the date to Saturday, Sept. 22, hoping to attract even more competitors to the 3,500 foot climb up the mountain.
"We feel this is a great way to ‘wrap up' the running season and reward yourself with the ultimate in finish lines," said Michelle Burns, director of the Whiteface Regional Visitors Bureau. "Truly there is no greater way to finish a race than to be on top of the world looking down on the Adirondacks admiring its fall foliage."
From the beginning of the highway, runners will begin their eight-degree accent, which will take them to more than 4,600 feet above sea level.
"The climb begins immediately," remarked Burns. "In fact, within the first mile, the field will climb almost 500 feet in elevation and by mile four, they will have climbed almost 2,000 feet.
"There will be some help along the way. Aid stations will be available at every mile. I expect that the elite athletes will finish the run in just over an hour, while a majority of the field will cross the finish line in an hour-and-a-half to two hours."
Once at the top, the athletes can relax, catch their breath and enjoy 360-degree views of the Adirondack High Peaks, deck out in the autumn colors of red, orange and yellow.
To register for the 35th annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Foot Race, log onto https://www.runreg.com/Net/2964. The cost is $35 per athlete.
Online registration will be available through Thursday, Sept. 20.
FUTURE NHL PLAYERS AND OLYMPIANS ON DISPLAY
Forty-five of the United States' best hockey players under the age of 20 will be in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 4-11, taking part in USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp.
The players will be auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2012-Jan. 5, 2013, in Ufa, Russia.
The camp, taking place at the Olympic Center's 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena, includes practices, intrasquad scrimmages and international games against Sweden and Finland. Forty-one of the U.S. players participating in this camp are NHL draft picks.
Tickets for each game are $8/adults (13-64) and $5/juniors (7-12) and seniors (65+). Children six and under are free.
An all-event ticket to see each of the nine games is $50/adults and $35/juniors and seniors. Tickets will be available at the Herb Brooks Arena door.
NEED TO COOL OFF?
The 2012 summer skating continues this weekend, Aug. 3-4, with Friday's Freaky Friday and the Saturday Night Ice Show at the Olympic Center, in Lake Placid.
Friday's Freaky Friday event begins at 4:30 p.m., while the Saturday night's show is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. Both events will be held in the center's 1932 Rink Jack Shea Arena.
Agness Zawadzki, a two-time world junior medalist, is Saturday night's featured skater. Zawadzki (Plaines, Ill.) is also a 2010 junior U.S. national champion and the 2012 U.S. senior bronze medalist.
Joining Zawadzki will be skaters participating in the 80th annual summer skating program. The skaters will perform their individual and group numbers during this entertaining event.
Admission to the show is $10 for adults, $8 for juniors and seniors. Children six and under may enter for free.
The ever-popular Freaky Friday show will also feature skaters from the summer skating program, who create their own unique routines for this event. The skaters abandon their regular routines in favor of creativity, humor and amusement.
The routines are judged on entertainment value. Admission is free.
GREAT WEATHER CONTINUES
It's been an amazing summer. For other info and suggestions, check out our Facebook page.
