Most who visit Blue Mountain Ski Resort come prepared for high-speed runs down its icy, snow-covered hills. The resort is home to many a skier or snowboarder throughout winter and spring, who navigate its slopes with ease.

But even the most experienced of winter sports enthusiasts were in for a brisk challenge Sunday, thanks to the resort’s 11th annual Winter Fest. Members of the USA Luge Team traveled to Palmerton for the event to give people a crash course in the breakneck game.

Robert Pipkins, who was a member of the U.S. Luge Team in the ’90s, was one of them. The two-time Olympian offered advice to those who never tried luge sledding but wanted to take a chance on the freshly carved curves in the snow.

Luge asks its participants to lie with their backs against the sled, using their legs, shoulders and a string to steer. It’s known as the fastest winter sport.

On a standard luge course, sledders can reach upward of 90 mph.

Another Olympic-level athlete offering advice to newcomers was Gordy Sheer, a three-time Olympian who works with USA Luge. Sheer travels the country introducing people to the sport and recruiting potential competitors, but said coming to Blue Mountain is a special event.

That’s because the resort invested in a piece of equipment to actually cut luge courses into the snow.

“This is the only place we do anything like this,” Sheer said. He added that there are just three official luge courses: one in Lake Placid, New York, another in Park City, Utah, and one in Michigan.

“We’re venue challenged as a sport,” Sheer said.

“It’s up to us to bring this sport to people.”

Carved out side-by-side, the parallel luge courses open last weekend offered two difficulty levels. The beginner’s circuit was a straight shot, but more experienced sledders put their skills to the test on a curved track.

Dmitry Feld, a former luge racer who coached Sheer, stood at the bottom of the more difficult route. Beside him, on the other side of an orange, plastic fence, 13-year-old Gavin Davis offered advice to first-timers taking on the easier course.

Davis, of Berwick, got his start at this same event three years ago, where he took third in a luge competition.

“Dad, that’s what I want to do,” Davis’ father, Chad Davis, remembers his son declaring after the race.

Davis was invited to a screening camp, after which he joined USA Luge’s development team.

His love of luge has since rubbed off on his 10-year-old twin siblings, Ian and Gabi Davis, who tried luge sledding for the first time last weekend. Ian held one of the fastest times of the morning, while Gabi fearlessly took each run. She loved feeling the wind blow past her face, and that she could “go any direction” she wanted.

The fun of luge sledding Sunday was rivaled only by live ice carving demonstrations and a line of sled dogs, who stole the hearts and attentions of nearly every passer-by.