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Lake Placid to host two IBSF World Cup races

Kendall Wesenberg begins her second run in the women’s World Cup skeleton race in February at Mount Van Hoevenberg. After USA Skeleton National Team trials races ended in Lake Placid on Sunday, Nov. 3, USA Bobsled & Skeleton announced that Wesenberg will be part of the 2019-2020 World Cup team, competing on the USA 1 sled. (News photo — Lou Reuter)

LAKE PLACID – The state Olympic Regional Development Authority will be hosting the first two International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cups this year at Mount Van Hoevenberg, instead of only one as previously planned.

The season-opening BMW IBSF Bobsled & Skeleton World Cup originally scheduled at Park City, Utah from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 was moved to Lake Placid for the weekend of Dec. 7 and 8, the IBSF announced on Nov. 2. The second World Cup race will be held as planned at the Olympic Sports Complex from Dec. 13 to 15.

“Due to the short time for preparation and in order to guarantee high level quality ice, the schedule for those two World Cup weeks had to be amended,” the IBSF stated in a press release.

There will be two, two-man bobsled World Cup races held during the first week and two, four-man bobsled races held during the second week. There will also be women’s bobsledding and skeleton racing for men and women. The IBSF had not changed the schedule on its website by press time. The IBSF cites technical issues with the refrigeration pump system on the Park City track as the reason for the rescheduling.

“Though the track management has acted immediately and tried to repair the system, it cannot guarantee that it will be ready by the time of the World Cup,” the IBSF stated. “In order to avoid any risk not hosting the event it was decided to move it to Lake Placid.”

In its release, IBSF officials thanked Park City track management “for the swift and professional proceeding in this matter,” Jeff Potter at ORDA “for his support in taking over the event” and USA Bobsled & Skeleton CEO John Rosen “for coordinating the matter.”

“The immediate cooperation between the two track managements of Park City and Lake Placid shows their great commitment for bobsleigh and skeleton sports and we want to thank both Race Organizers,” the IBSF stated.

Rosen said by phone Wednesday, Nov. 6 that he received a call from the Park City track officials about the problems they were having, and he acted as an intermediary between the Utah Olympic Park and IBSF. They concluded that the risk was too high and the cost too great if they could not get the track operational by the last week in November. Therefore, it was suggested that they move the first World Cup to Lake Placid.

“It was basically a three-way collaboration,” Rosen said.

The track problems at Park City created a dilemma for USABS, which had already shipped its bobsleds there for the USA Bobsled National Team selection trials. The sleds had to be shipped back to Lake Placid.

“They arrived last night,” Rosen said Nov. 6, adding that the team trials are now scheduled for the same week as the North American Cup Bobsled & Skeleton, Monobob and Youth Olympic Games qualifying racing Nov. 18-21 at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

The Lake Placid races were announced by ORDA Tuesday as part of its winter schedule. ORDA Communications Director Jon Lundin said by phone Nov. 6 that adding the first World Cup to its schedule meant finding housing for all the athletes and television crews one week earlier. Otherwise, it will just be another busy weekend at the track.

“It’s business as usual, and our business is international events,” Lundin said. “What a great way for the U.S. bobsled and skeleton teams to begin their season – on their home ice.”

Both USA Bobsled & Skeleton and USA Luge are based in Lake Placid.

ORDA will be hosting the Viessmann FIL Luge World Cup/BMW Sprint Cup from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at Mount Van Hoevenberg, giving Lake Placid three straight weeks of World Cup racing.

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