Sports Editor

Not many people would consider running into burning

buildings when considering a career, but for Al Braun, 27, of

Senoia, that's how he takes a break.

Braun is a firefighter for the city of Fayetteville, but he is also

an "extreme athlete." The term originates from the Extreme

(X) Games, which began several years ago.

The games include bungee jumping, rollerblading,

mountain biking and, Al Braun's new thrill, street luge. The games have

been covered by ESPN since their inception. This summer,

NBC launches the Gravity Games.

Street luge is the process of lying down on a sled of sorts

and racing at speeds up to 70 mph down roads. Al just competed

in his first race recently at the Mt. Cheaha race in Talladega

National Forest. He finished in first place. Once you jump on

your sled and start going, he explained, there are no brakes. There are

specially crafted shoes made from tractor trailer tire retreads.

Each board is custom made for the person. Al is sponsored

foot pegs and handles.

Al used to race drag bikes and was ranked second in his

division, but after shelling out lots of money when his motor blew

up three times, he looked for a less cost prohibitive sport.

He had seen street luge on the X games the past few years

and decided that it was the next thrill for him to try. It's not such an

easy sport to get into though.

Currently, the Internet supports it best because there are no

magazines specifically dedicated to it. The best way to begin is to

talk to other racers that can give you advice on how to get involved.

"I had a lot of help," said Braun. "I talked with Ed Bryant, a

retired racer in the area and he sold me some equipment and hooked

me up with some other racers."

He and his friends would practice every week, finding

remote roads with a good grade.

"The best kind of road has no reflectors, guardrails and,

obviously, no traffic," Braun said.

Al Braun, now nicknamed 'Scarecrow, by his luge peers,

is starting to make a mark in this intense sport. The element of

risk is definitely what draws Braun to street luge.

" I like to know I am alive," Braun said with a grin.

Though Al will be tryng out for the X games, his next race

will be in Madison, Indiana on March 16. Also, watch the

Gravity Games this August,when 'Scarecrow' hopes to make his

presence known on the national scene.

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