Happy Labor Day, everyone!
Turning It Around
Turning burnout into direction, one step at a time
Picking up from last month's update, I'm really glad to say August turned things around. After how flat July felt, I knew something had to change. I sat down with my head coach and we had an honest talk about everything—training, sleep, diet, mental outlets, and where my head was at overall. It's never easy to admit when certain choices haven't helped your performance, but that kind of honesty is sometimes what gets you unstuck.
Summer can be a tough stretch—staying in one place, same routine, same cycle. It's easy to lose that spark and feel like luge is more of a job than a passion. That's exactly what I told my coach—I didn't just want to train better, I wanted to live better. Together, we built a plan with one clear goal: be ready for Start Championships on September 19.
Since then, I've been feeling more focused and more grounded. Not every week is perfect, but progress is progress—and lately, I've seen enough to believe the plan is working. Even the small steps forward feel meaningful. And with just six and a half weeks until we fly to Norway to start preseason, I'm feeling excited again. That's something I wasn't sure I'd feel a month ago.
The past few weeks reminded me that growth isn't always about huge breakthroughs—sometimes it's just showing up, sticking to the plan, and trusting it'll pay off. Right now, that's exactly where I'm at.
Not My Time Yet
Grateful to learn from the top while staying focused on long-term growth
This past month brought some exciting news—I was invited to join the Senior National Team for a portion of their preseason training as they prepare for the Olympic year. We fly out on October 8, and I'll be with them for a few weeks in Lillehammer, Norway and Sigulda, Latvia.
Naturally, a lot of people have asked: "Will you be racing off for the World Cup Team?" The short answer is yes—but with some perspective. Making the World Cup Team, or even the Olympic Team, isn't the goal for me this season. Physically and mentally, I know I'm not in that place right now, and I'm okay with that.
This year, I believe I'll gain more from continuing with the Junior National Team, where I'll get more focused attention and training volume—things that are critical for my development. I still have one more year of junior eligibility, and the truth is it's simply not my time yet.
I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to train with the seniors during such an important year in the quad. If I'm going fast and the chance to qualify is there, of course I'll take it—but results aren't the only thing that matter right now.
One cool bonus from joining the seniors this fall: I'm now officially registered for the 2026 Olympics. While that doesn't guarantee anything (and doesn't mean I'm going), it's still a surreal and exciting step—especially since I didn't expect to even begin that process until the next quad.
Outside of sliding, Matt and I have officially named our band Bay 3 Boys, and we've got our first gig this Wednesday night at 8pm at Zig Zags in Lake Placid. We've been putting in a lot of time rehearsing, and we're really looking forward to it. If you're in the area, we'd love to see you there—it's going to be a fun night!
Steady Forward
Day by day, week by week, I'll keep showing up and chipping away—doing the work to be ready when the season comes. The path isn't always easy, but I'm learning to trust it. Progress takes time, and I believe things will come together exactly when they're meant to.
As always, thank you so much for your support—I'm truly grateful to have you as part of Team Barnes.
-Logan