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NEGAUNEE -- Four Upper Michigan lugers will be competing in Europe in a few weeks.

Fifteen-year-old twin brothers, Derek and Daryn Carter, will be competing in the World Cup Championship in Italy for natural track luging. They will be some of the youngest competitors at the championship.

The Carters and their two other teammates are high school students from Negaunee and Marquette. They've been training for years at Lucy Hill in Negaunee with their coach Tammy Wills. They will be representing the United States against nearly 30 other countries.

Their 17-day trip will also involve training with other teams in Germany, Austria, and Italy.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun to go over there and train," said Daryn Carter. "It will be cool to see different tracks, other people, and to see how they do it in Europe."

"I think it's going to be a pretty good experience for us going over there and seeing different tracks and being able to train on other tracks," added Derek Carter.

Other team members include 15-year-old Derek Rogers of Negaunee and 16-year-old Liesel Demeuse of Marquette.

The team leaves for Europe on January 13, but they are still in need of financial assistance. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to their trip, write a check to the United States Luge Association with it earmarked for "natural track," or address it to the Upper Peninsula Luge Club.