Simkin's glide to success in ESG luge competitions

Seasoned son of Livingston Manor dentist takes silver; novice dad cops ninth

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE PLACID, NY — The love of winter games is nothing new to Don Simkin, a Youngsville resident and dentist in Livingston Manor. For that matter, Simkin is drawn to the allure of the summer games too, which is why he is a regular at the Olympics, including the most recent ones held in Torino, Italy.

But this year, a new wrinkle developed for Simkin as he continued his ongoing support for his son Vinny’s own particular winter affinity, the luge. Vinny, 12, not only loves to watch the luge races, he participates in them. This is his third year of competition. It is Don’s first.

The father and son duo took their combined love for the speed of the luge and began to practice with the Adirondack Luge Club on Saturday nights, beginning in early January.

They developed their racing techniques with an eye on the Empire State Winter Games, held from February 24 to 26.

Competing in the 16-and-under youth division, Vinny garnered a silver medal, with a second-place combined two-run finish time of 1:36.176 on February 26. There were 11 racers in Vinny’s competition.

There were four father and son combinations and the Simkins had the best combined time of the father-son quartet.

Don competed in the open men’s competition and finished with a combined two-run finish time of 1.47.164, just .009 out of eighth place, in a field of 10.

In the club race, youth division race held on February 25, Vinny took the gold medal and had the fastest time for the entire club.

Vinny is hoping to be selected to the U.S. Luge Association Development Team for next season. He slid to faster times than three of the four boys from the developmental team that participated in the Empire State Games. The young man, Isaac Underwood, who had a faster time than Vinny, was a gold medal winner.

Father and son really enjoyed the experience. “I loved being there; the spirit was Olympic,” said Don.

If anybody would know what that feels like, he would.