Ashley Farquharson | Photo: USALuge.org

June 17. Ashley Farquharson, a member of the US Olympic Luge team, will attend the Big Day at the Lake picnic July 20 for Boat Hosts as well as Littles and Bigs from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas.

An official team luge—a French word for sled— will be on display and Farquharson will sign autographs as well.

During the official 2023-24 season, her record included:

World Cups: Lake Placid: 4th. Whistler: 7th. Winterberg: 6th. Igls: 4th. Altenberg World Champs: 19th. Altenberg: 11th. Oberhof 13th. Oberhof 2: 7th. Sigulda: 4th. Sigulda 2: 4th.

Big Day at the Lake

Big Day at the Lake is all about providing a day of fun for at-risk kids in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas. Children meet Boats Hosts where they choose—at their home, a marina or a boat ramp—accompanied by built-in chaperones from Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Morning fun on the lake—think tubing and swimming—is followed by a picnic for all participants at Duke Energy Explorium, after which it’s time to head home.

Farquharson, 25, will attend the picnic as well as the Blessing of the Fleet for sponsors.

There is more information as well as how volunteers and Boat Hosts may sign up on www.bigdayatthelake.com

Luge background

The first international luge race took place in February 1883 with 21 competitors representing six nations, including the United States.

The United States has two full-length, certified, Olympic-style luge tracks in Lake Placid, NY and Park City, Utah—Farquharson’s hometown. The average luge run has a vertical drop of 300 feet, with speeds in excess of 75 mph.