Lake Placid (pps) Steve Holcomb of Park City, Utah is used to winning on the ice and his performance at the Open Luge Start Championship was no different but for one notable exception; his sled. The 2010 Olympic gold medal winner in the four-man bobsled event topped the men’s division during the event, held at the USA Luge Start Training Complex in Lake Placid. In addition to winning the men’s competition, Holcomb also posted the fastest time of the day, earning a berth into the USA Luge Start Championships on October 7, where he will compete against the members of the National Team. Holcomb posted a winning time of 1.425 seconds. Other winners of interest included Eileen Hamlin, of Remsen N.Y., mother of 2009 World Champion Erin Hamlin, in the women’s age 15-49 division. Larry Sweeney of Suffield, Conn., father of current National team athlete Emily Sweeney and retired racer/Olympian Megan Sweeney, took the gold in the men age 50 + category. The event was a chance for the general public to see and try the sport of luge for the first time. National Luge team athletes were on hand to lend support, coach the beginners on the technique needed to complete a start, and sign autographs, but did not compete.