LAKE PLACID, N.Y., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- All it took was a company flyer
looking for people to get involved in the sport of luge.  Now, 24-year-old
Robert Pipkins, in his 10th year of competing, is a two-time Olympian and has
his eyes set on both the 1998 and 2002 Olympics.  Pipkins, who grew up in
Staten Island and has formerly competed in the Empire State Games, is
considered to be the favorite for this weekend's National Senior Luge
Championships in Lake Placid.
   This event is the season-ender in luge competition and Pipkins is looking
to end this year on a high.  "This year in particular has been a low year for
me.  I kind of feel like I'm in transition...I've kind of been on a plateau
for a few years," says Pipkins, who came in 16th place in luge competition
during the 1994 Winter Olympics and came in 21st in the '92 Games.  "The high
point would be my start.  I did a lot of start training over the summer and I
arguably have the fastest start in the world."
    Pipkins attended Drexel and graduated on time from a dual degree program
in architectural engineering and civil engineering.
    This season for luge began back in November with a World Cup event in
Sigulda, Latvia.  The tour has also taken the U.S. luge team to Lillehammer,
Norway; four cities in Germany; Nagano, Japan; Calgary, Alberta; and the World
Luge Championships in Igls, Austria.
    The Empire State Games is a part of the luge national championships with
some athletes competing in both events.  Adam Heidt, who was born in
Huntingdon, N.Y., was a silver medalist in last year's Senior National
Championships and took gold in the Junior Nationals.  "I like the speed and I
like the challenge and it's a really good group of people involved in luge,"
says the 19-year old Heidt, who has been competing in the sport for nine
years.  "It is somewhat of an advantage to live in Lake Placid.  We have the
Olympic training center right down the road from my house; we have the York
International Start building, we can do starts on ice all-year round because
it's an indoor refrigerated track."  Heidt moved to Lake Placid when he was
10 years old, right after he got into luge.  Larry Dolan, who lives in
Morrisonville, NY and is another ESG competitor this year, is trying to add to
his two silver medals he won at the 1995 World Junior Championships.
    Among the women Empire State Games competitors is Cammy Myler, who's
fourth-place finish in the 1995 U.S. World Championships is the best-ever for
a U.S. woman.  Myler resides in Lake Placid.
    The junior luge competition will take place Saturday and the seniors will
compete on Sunday -- both events to take place at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
    The luge is one of eight sports that are a part of the 17th-annual Empire
States Games.  Competition begins Friday in the biathlon and alpine skiing
downhill.
    The New York Lottery is the primary sponsor of the 1997 Empire State
Winter Games.  The New York Lottery is an important part of funding education
in communities throughout the State.

Link to this page: