Joel is King of the hill

For streetluger Joel King, 26, of South Terrace, Littlehampton, that's his idea of bliss and next month he will take his passion to Scheid in Switzerland to represent the UK in the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) World Streetluge Championships.

Streetluge is an exciting but little-known extreme sport which involves racing other lugers down a steep one or two-mile course on what amounts to little more than a six-foot steel and aluminium skateboard.

The sport evolved from skateboarding when American skateboarders wanted to go faster downhill and lie back on their boards.

Joel's thrill-seeking came from an early interest in downhill mountainbiking, a sport in which he used to compete while living in the Cotswolds.

When his bike was stolen and proved too expensive to replace, Joel looked elsewhere for a fast downhill fix '” streetluging, which he had seen at the extreme sport world's version of the Olympics, the X Games.

After a taster session in Salisbury in 2002, Joel was hooked and began to compete, rising quickly through the rankings.

Last year he finished second in the national rankings and 27th in the world.

On Tuesday, the Gazette took Joel and his luge up to Arundel Castle and, with the kind permission of the castle authorities, let him loose on the hills there.

"It's certainly one of the more glamorous places I've ridden," said Joel, who works in IT development for West Sussex County Council.

Dressed in full motorbike leathers and with a crash helmet and protective gloves on, Joel launched himself down the castle's winding slopes, carving turns and picking up speed all the way.

Although it's not illegal to ride a streetluge on open roads, it comes under the same laws as cycling, with penalties for breaking the speed limit or riding recklessly.

"It's a real thrill going down a hill at up to 70 miles an hour, just inches off the ground," said Joel. "You are really close to the road and every little movement goes through to the wheels. It's quite safe, though, and with the full leathers you're well protected.

"So far I've not broken anything but I've crashed before when I wasn't wearing leathers and shredded skin and flesh off my back and hand so they really are a must."

Joel is still looking for sponsorship to help pay for his trip to the world championships.

"I'm proud to be representing the UK in Switzerland," he said. "There are four or five riders from the UK going out to compete and I hope we do the UK proud.

"I'm really excited. It's going to be a good week. I'm looking forward to riding against some of the world's finest lugers and hopefully winning."

Visit www.gravityking.co.uk to sponsor Joel or to find out more about streetluge.