LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 43 LOCALadk unison. From the pull start, where the top man has his hands on the start bars and the bottom man has his hands teth- ered to the top man's hands to generate more power (this action must be completely synchronized), to steering down the twisting track, verbal communication is not possible, so both athletes must execute flawlessly on the strategy dis- cussed prior to the start. Additionally, each athlete needs to anticipate how the other is going to react in certain situa- tions, as one mistake could cost them hundredths or even thousandths of a second, which is sometimes all the differ- ence between those who are, and those who are not, on the podium. Matt and Jayson's skills will be put to the test in Py- eonhang, as its cur ve nine is quickly gaining a reputation as being ver y difficult to navigate. Over the last three seasons Matt and Jayson have made steady progress and have become one of the best doubles teams in the world. In 2014-2015, their first full season to- gether, they finished seventh in the overall World Cup stand- ings. Their best World Cup finishes that winter were sixth in Lake Placid and sixth in the Sprint event held in Altenburg, Germany. The following season the duo finished fifth in the overall World Cup standings. In 2015-2016 they slid to sixth place in Sigulda, Latvia and took fourth place in another Sprint event held in Oberhof, Germany. Then last season Matt and Jayson earned silver medals in both Lake Placid and Altenberg, enroute to the overall World Cup bronze medal. For Matt and Jayson, as with so many athletes, the road leading up to next year's Olympics has been a long one and filled with personal sacrifice. They were both products of USA Luge's Slider Search Program, and both were 10 years old when they first tried out for the Junior Development Team. It took Jayson two, and Matt three, attempts to make the team. Prior to participating in the Slider Search Program, neither of them knew what luge was. Jayson, from Ber wick, Pennsyl- vania and now 29 years old, was encouraged by his mom, who had seen a flyer for the program. Matt, 32, from Huntington Station, Long Island, was encouraged by his dad, who worked for an organization that sponsored USA Luge. The Slider Search Program is the official nationwide ath- lete recruitment tour of USA Luge. It targets young athletes ages nine to 13. Its mission is to identif y, train, and qualif y young athletes for the USA Luge Junior Development Team. At each tour stop, Olympic and National Team coaches and Success

• Cover