Palecek keeps focus on track as international luge competition nears its conclusion

A lack of snow may have forced Snowblast to end without the infamous sled down garbage hill, but sophomore Mason Palecek hasn’t stopped racing down tracks of an entirely different variety. 

Recently, Palecek was selected as one of five members of the U.S Natural Track Luge Team to race in international competitions within Europe from December through February.

“Luge is a sport where you essentially ride a sled down a hill,” he said. “The discipline I do is natural luge, where you do both 180 degree turns, 90 degree turns and the sled has steels that need to be sharpened.”

The sport may not seem far from a favorite snow day activity. In fact, his love for sledding is what got Palecek interested in luge in the first place. 

“I started doing luge because there was this thing called a slider search and you go down a road with wheels on the sled, and I thought it was really fun because you get going really fast,” he said. “Luge is similar and becomes very exhilarating.”

 For Palecek, gaining proficiency has taken a lot of time and commitment.

“I started doing luge in sixth grade, artificial luge. I then changed disciplines to natural luge because it’s a lot more fun,” he said. “To be successful in my sport, I had to position train on a sled off the track for a very long time. I had to train on a track, which I did every single weekend in Upper Michigan. Over here, I practice both on the track and off almost every single day.”

Nevertheless, Palecek’s dedication to his sport has had serious rewards. 

“Competing at an international level has been really exciting because I’ve been getting to meet people from other countries and see the way that they do things, both culturally and in luge,” he said. “They have different techniques that they use for sleds and for driving.”

Despite Palecek’s success, it hasn’t always been an easy road, or track, to success and becoming the athlete he is today. 

“Occasionally, I face mental barriers, like not being able to have my correct form on the track,” he said. “I overcame that by putting a lot of work in off the track on a sled on the ground, not moving.”

Palecek, who is a multi-sport athlete at home, competing in cross country, among other sports, has had to alter his athletic commitments in order to focus on luge.

“Last year, when I wasn’t in Europe, I was still able to do the stuff that I had been planning on doing like wrestling, but I never got to compete in any wrestling meets because I always went to luge on weekends because it was my main priority,” he said.

However, athletic commitments haven’t been the only thing that Palecek has had to balance among his busy  schedule.

“Schoolwork used to be completed normally because I only did luge on the weekends,” he said. “Now, I only do my schoolwork when I have free time.” 

Balancing these aspects of life has become especially challenging because of the extremely high level Palecek is competing at. 

“I also have to think mentally before I start going down the track,” he said. “I have to train, so that I’m able to think more when I’m going down the track. This is simply so that I can be successful and get down the track with no accidents and a fast time.”

Palecek attributes some of this success to specific training practices.

“What I do most often is practicing in an environment where all other variables are isolated, so that you just practice one aspect at a time,” he said. 

Not only have specific training strategies been helpful, Palecek believes that some of his most meaningful success has stemmed from his supporters. 

“Lots of people have supported me in becoming a high-level athlete,” he said. “My parents have helped me in bringing me up and supporting me as an athlete. My coach, Keith Whitman, who has helped me develop my form, as well as the other athletes I’m training with.” 

 These tactics have evidently helped as Palacek recently placed in a range from 18-23 place through the Junior World Championships series in Umhausen, Austria. However, Palecek has even bigger plans to further his success within the sport.

“In the future, my goal is to place on the podium in luge. My hopes are to be in the top three or even top five.”

by Zosia Bowlus-Jasinski Henry Bongers

Published Febuary 26, 2024

Oshkosh West Index volume 120 issue V