 He won the overall Luge World Cup men's doubles title in 1996-7.While living in Marquette, Michigan, Thorpe, along with fellow Boy Scout and future World Champion Wendel Suckow, first experienced luge on a small local track that (after being relocated to nearby Negaunee, Michigan) remains the only full length natural track luge facility in the United States.Thorpe is a 1988 graduate of Marquette Senior High School.