NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release November 16, 2015

Learn or at the Whistler Sliding Centre New introductory programs for children, youth and young adults

Whistler, BC: The Sea to Sky Corridor’s children and youth like to go fast – down the mountain, on bike trails, or in ice rinks. Now they can take speed to another level! The Whistler Sliding Centre, together with BC Luge and the BC & Skeleton Association, offer entry‐level programs for the Olympic sliding sports of luge and skeleton.

The ‘Discover Luge’ program is available for children and youth 8‐14 years of age. Participants will receive an extensive introduction to the sport off‐ice with dryland practice and a track walk, after that they will start sliding from a low point of the track and will eventually be able to go through four corners of the Whistler Sliding Centre’s ice track, reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h. The Discover Luge sessions in the 2015/2016 season are offered on November 29 (9:00 ‐ 11:00am), December 13 (11:30am ‐ 1:30pm), January 17 (11:30am ‐ 1:30pm), February 14 (11:00am ‐ 1:00pm) and March 6 (11:00am ‐ 1:00pm). One individual session costs $35. Participants need to bring their own properly adjusted CSA certified snow sport helmet, all other equipment is provided.

Youth and young adults between 15‐24 years can give Skeleton a try this winter. In introductory clinics, participants will learn the basics of the Olympic winter sport, go through dryland exercises and a track walk before they hop on their sleds. Beginner skeleton sliding will start from corner 11, which means participants will be sliding through the track’s final seven corners, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. ‘Discover Skeleton’ will be offered on November 29 (5:00 ‐ 7:00 pm) and December 13 (5:30 – 7:30 pm), one individual session costs $50.

Pre‐registration for both programs is required, sessions can be booked online (www.whistlersportlegacies.com) or by phone at 604‐964‐0040. If participants want to pursue luge or skeleton further, BC Luge (www.bcluge.ca) and the BC Bobsleigh &

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Skeleton Association (www.slidebc.ca) offer programming throughout the winter season.

About the Whistler Sliding Centre The Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) is operated by Whistler Sport Legacies, a non‐profit organization dedicated to grow sport at three venues: , the Whistler Sliding Centre, and the Whistler Athletes’ Centre. The WSC was the site of the bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge competitions for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and today is a training and competition venue for sliding sport athletes of all levels. For more information, visit whistlerslidingcentre.com.

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Media Contact: Silke Jeltsch Communications Specialist Whistler Sport Legacies Office: 604‐964‐0054 Mobile: 604‐906‐0588 [email protected]