Look! He's pointing his toes....

I always assume everyone knows the 1980 Olympic Winter Games were held in Lake Placid. If you didn't know - well, indeed they were. The Olympic Winter Games were also held here in 1932. As as result, we host a ton of World Cup and international competitions. The "venues" are well-maintained and use the latest technology in order to host these events. "Venue" is the word Olympic worshipers use instead of stadium or place or ski jumps or bobsled run, etc.
This weekend, the International Luge Federation opened their World Cup season here in Lake Placid, not far from my place. "All events were held at the Olympic Sports Complex, five miles from Lake Placid on Route 73, site of the demanding, mile-long, 20-curve track. Luge racers reached speeds of 80 miles per hour on a course that boasts a vertical drop of 410 feet, or nearly 40 stories." The National Governing Body (NGB) for Luge (loog-ee?) is headquartered in Lake Placid.
The fact that we have a plethora of top-notch, very fit athletes hanging around the region makes it a big plus to live or vacation here. I think seeing people who are fit and focused sets a good example for all of us who live and visit here, especially the kids. My son had a chance to try every sport one could imagine and was able to take his competition as far as he wanted. The Adirondacks are a great place to raise children. It was certainly great for me to be able to send a high-energy, twelve-year old boy to Whiteface Mountain for the day and have him return home happy and quite exhausted! I can't say enough about the positive effect of focus, training, and pride in achievement that gives these kids a lifetime of skills. Anyway, the photo is the early morning view from my place. Which is within hearing distance of the Luge announcer saying, "Look....he's pointing his toes!"