Jay Lloyd's Getaway: Downhill Racing in the Poconos

By Jay Lloyd

PALMERTON, Pa. (CBS) -- With Olympic fever heating up, a weekend getaway to the local ski slopes can fuel your own alpine fantasies.

"Racer number one -- racer ready! Five, four, three..."

As the spotlight falls on Olympic racers, area ski instructors see a spike in sign-ups for racing lessons.

"It certainly sparks the interest in alpine racing," said one instructor, "and I've seen a lot of families come out."

But it's the young skiers and snowboard riders in junior racing programs that are really dreaming big.

"I wouldn't mind being in the Olympics -- it would be fun!" one young racer told me.

So, where can you get in on the action?

Here are some of the spots:

Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, Pa., holds Monday night races and Wednesday morning clinics.

Shawnee, in East Stroudsburg, hosts a popular race series that anyone can enter, every Saturday and Sunday.

Camelback Ski Area, in Tannersville, teaches junior and adult racing.

And races at Big Boulder, in Blakeslee, kick off on Tuesday nights.

At any of them, a chance to live your own Olympic fantasy!