QUALIFIED! Grandma Luge is Going to the Olympics!

12-30-05

Happy New Year,

Wow! Talk about excitement. Anne Abernathy aka Grandma Luge almost didn’t qualify. While everyone around her thought she had already made it, Anne knew that she still had 2 World Cup Olympic Qualification race left. Although she had enough points and races for the preliminary qualification, only the top 30 Olympic standing women receive and invitation.

Race 4 was in Calgary, Canada, usually no problem. Anne is the only woman who has participated in every World Cup race on that track since it was built in the mid 80s. However, training was in minus 26-degree weather and then warmed up for the race. During the race run Anne slammed into a wall, fracturing her ankle. Although she completed the qualification race, she was in last place. That meant she HAD to compete in Lake Placid.

The track in Lake Placid is relatively new and Anne had only been in two previous races there resulting in a total of 12 runs on the track. In addition this particular race week only allowed for two days of training. On the final day of training, Anne crashed on three runs in a row. Something she has never done in her entire luge career. If she did not make down on race day – her luge career and Olympic dream would be over. No stress! Anne sat on the start and asked the Lord along for the ride; after all He got her there. Then she focused, pulled off and finished with her personal best time.

QUICK UPDATES

In the last newsletter Grandma Luge was still seeking an Olympic clothing supplier, and someone to step up and assist in obtaining a Red Helmet to wear during the Olympics. Despite the hectic holidays with most everyone out of the offices and taking breaks from email, one company is reviewing the Olympic Uniform request.

No help so far with the Red Helmet and the deadline is December 31st.

WHERE’S GRANDMA?

Anne leaves for Europe on New Year’s Eve (cheapest day for air tickets). There are 4 races before she checks into the Olympic Village in February. Three World Cups that are also Olympic seeding races and the European Championship, which traditionally acts as the warm-up to the Olympic competition. You can help her get to these races and onward to the Olympics, check out www.grandmaluge.com and go to the donate button at the bottom of the homepage.

BLOG

Once Anne get’s back on the race circuit next week, she’ll be posting frequently on the BLOG on her website. Keep check back there for updates as well as what’s going on during the Olympic Games.