Luge competition carries junior to European competition, global experience

Returning this February from his second World Cup competition, junior Mason Palecek is continuing his career as a professional luger in Europe. Originating in St. Moritz, Switzerland in the 1870s, luge is a timed sport played during the winter season, where lugers ride a flat sled and race down a track of ice. Palecek remembers the beginning of his journey and what encouraged him to continue his passion.

“At the Upper Peninsula Luge Club, you can schedule a time to luge,” he said. “It’s open to the public and I just did that, went up to the U.P and started on the track. Anyone can do it.” 

Palecek’s beginnings with the sport date back to middle school.

 “I started artificial luge in sixth grade,” he said. “Then COVID happened, and then I picked up natural luge in eighth grade.”

Although he is now a professional luger, Palecek says that he was uncertain which path he would take when he stumbled upon the sport.

 “It was really just a random thing; there is this thing called slide search and they were in Appleton,” he said. 

Palecek’s passion for luge helps create a stable mentality when it comes to the run.

“It was just fun because I was going fast,” he said. 

The excitement for Palecek regarding luge rises exponentially, despite the risks accompanying the sport. 

“I enjoy the speed and adrenaline, and also the aspect of fear,” he said. “Knowing that you can get really

injured, it would be bad.” 

During his time in Europe this year, Palecek had been a victim of an accident. In his practice run, he collapsed with his sled, which appeared to cause a huge injury.

“That crash looked really bad,” he said. “Nothing was wrong with me, the sled was on top of me so nothing sliced me.” 

Palecek has traveled to many countries in Europe. To compete in the Luge World Cup, Palecek’s practice runs were held in the Alps Mountains, stretching across eight countries such as Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. 

“We were mostly in Italy and Austria and the Alps all the time,” he said. “We were mostly in the South Tyrol and Tyrol regions.” 

Palecek is open about his opinions about the location of his practice runs. 

 “I like the South side of Tyrol better than the Tyrol,” he said. “But we were in the Tyrol for the majority.”

Palecek has a personal routine to race for success.

“Practicing is just going down the track,” he said. “But before I go down the track I always crouch down, and I close my eyes and imagine the track before me, and then I move my body while I’m imagining where my sled is going.”

As a student athlete, it’s important to maintain a good outlook when performing. Palecek’s development of a stable mind continues to be beneficial for every run he partakes in. 

“My mentality, I only focus on the track. It’s like 100%. I focus on turning points and then form,” he said. “ I’m always focusing on form and thinking about what I’m doing, but most of my thinking happens at the top of the track.” 

Pre-meet routines are recurring rituals for many student athletes, including Palecek. With a unique routine, Palecek proudly shares his. 

“Before I get into the starting house, I always hit my head two times and take three deep breaths. It clears my head,” he said. “When I’m going down the track, it’s just following what I prepared for myself at the top.” 

In Europe, Palecek experienced not only the Luge World Cup, but also the luxuries and novelties of being abroad. Outside of practice, Palecek elatedly took the opportunity to enjoy his travels.

“Besides practice, we would just hang out and we went to restaurants all the time because we couldn’t cook,” he said. “We didn't have stuff in our hotels to cook.”

With new exposure to foods abroad, Palecek’s travels benefited for his own sake.

“The food is really good there, the pizza is amazing in Italy,” he said. “It’s really good in Austria but in Italy it is better.” 

Going beyond his own team bonding, Palecek was able to converse with other lugers from different countries. 

“We hung out with the other teams sometimes, like Slyvinia,” he said. “At this one hotel all the countries were there except for Italy and Austria. There’s Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Czech” 

Though the World Cup is behind him, the luge season continues. Palecek carries on with his luge racing in upper Michigan with a determined attitude and a motivated persona.

“I’m really excited about this upcoming race because this is my home track,” he said. “ I can see how much I have improved in Europe.”

by Novally Thao

Published February 24th, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue V