On Friday, July 30 at the new Ice House push facility at Mount Van Hoevenberg, Sylvia Hoffman (center) was named the 2021 USA Women’s Bobsled Push Champion, with Aja Evans (left) second, and Lauren Gibbs (right) and Lake Kwaza (not on stand) tied for third. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Countries that do exceptionally well at the Winter Olympics in bobsledding tend to have indoor refrigerated push tracks, such as Canada and Germany. With the Ice House opening at the Mount Van Hoevenberg base lodge, the United States joins that club.

On Friday and Saturday, July 30-31, the U.S. bobsled team and the state Olympic Regional Development Authority hosted the first indoor U.S. push championships at the new facility.

Athletes, coaches and USA Bobsled and Skeleton officials described the new push facility developed by ORDA and funded by the state of New York as a “game changer.” Now athletes will have the opportunity to practice their starts on ice instead of pushing a wheeled framed practice sled on rails as they had been and most other countries do.

One athlete that has experienced years of practice in an ice house is Kaillie Humphries, who initially competed for Canada and now represents the U.S.

“Having an Ice House in our backyard is huge,” said Humphries. “I know this is something the U.S. has wanted for a very long time. I have experienced training in an icehouse firsthand. I know what a difference it can make for the program and the sport. The Ice House is going to increase our performance because it provides us the experience of practicing on ice.”

On Friday, July 30 at the new Ice House push facility at Mount Van Hoevenberg, Frank Del Duca (center) was named the 2021 USA Men’s Bobsled Push Champion, with Derek White (left) second, and Codie Bascue (right) third. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Until now, U.S. teams had to travel to places like Calgary to use the Canadian track, an expensive trip, and, at best, they got two weeks on the track. In Placid, they can now spend as much time as they want practicing pushing and loading, especially tricky for the four-man sleds.

The U.S. bobsled team head coach Mike Kohn said they can now practice loading on the same sleds used in races. Coaches will have more time to determine which athletes do best in which position on the four-man sled. It will enable them to adjust the foot-pegs and handles early instead of waiting until they get on the track in October. Kohn feels their ability to practice loading and making those adjustments early on will enable them to use their track time better and significantly increase their chances of success.

To further support the athletes, ORDA President and CEO Mike Pratt and Olympic Sports Complex General Manager Rebecca Dayton facilitated decorating the start area of the Ice House with large blown-up photographs. Taken by Lake Placid photographer Nancie Battaglia, the images echo the elements and energy of the start and feature four- and two-man bobsled and skeleton athletes, men and women.

“Competing in the new facility creates a whole new atmosphere,” said Frank Del Duca, the 2021 Men’s Bobsled Driver’s Push Champion. “With the sled on ice, the huge pictures of past World Cups hung on the walls, and with fans and friends watching. It’s inspiring.”

While the push championships help the athletes and coaches assess where they are at this point in their training, there are other vital elements.

Kaillie Humphries (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Critical at the start is both pushing and then loading the sled. Essential also is the team selection, which includes matching their abilities and determining which driver and pushers work best together.

“The relationship between you and the brakeman is important for team dynamics,” said Humphries. “When you stand on that line, the relationship you have, how hard you’re willing to work for each other and the nation is so important. There’s a balance piece to it, where I’m weak, my teammate is strong, and where she’s weak, I can be the strength, and together, we can be the best on that sled for Team USA. At the end of the day, if both of us do our best job, and everything lines up, then results should be there.”

As important as putting together the right team is, the push championships were about challenging the athletes to do their best under pressure.

“Today, the athletes are showing their abilities on ice as an individual athlete, not as a member of a team,” said Kohn. “For me, what’s important is seeing how they handle pressure and where they are physically. It’s them pushing by themselves in an ice house. It’s a different ball game once they get with their teammates on the hill with 20 turns in front of them. Here they will find out how they do individually, but it doesn’t necessarily tell us who is going to be the best as part of a team.”

Push coach Garrett Hines agreed. He pointed out that this race is just one step to being a little bit closer to selecting and putting together the U.S. Olympic team He added that there are many other parts that athletes will have to complete in order to be considered. It shows the athletes where there are at this time of the year and how they compare to their teammates.

Nicholas Taylor and Elana Meyers Tyler pose with their son, Nico. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“This year it’s also historical,” said Hines. “They are the first athletes to use this facility. I believe it means a lot to everybody.”

On Friday and Saturday, the athletes went all out. A feature they loved was having their teammates lining the side cheering loudly for every athlete with equal enthusiasm. Injuries happened. After finishing a solid second after two runs pushing the frame sled, Humphries wasn’t able to continue in the monobob, and practice or training injuries kept Lolo Jones from competing.

“I did my best; I went all out,” said Sylvia Hoffman, the 2021 USA Women’s Bobsled Push Champion. “I figured we’ve got this new push track, and I’d give it give all I got.”

The fasted couple on ice was Elana Meyers Taylor, who finished first in the women’s driver push, and her husband Nicholas, who took eighth out of 24 in the men’s push. Nicolas credits holding their son as a great way to relax between runs. Elana is pleased to have done well, but her mind is focused on the challenge ahead.

“It’s so nice to be able to come here, do reps, and get on the ice early,” said Elana. “I’m always happy to win a competition. But I want to use this time to determine where I am, go from there, and keep building. Our biggest competition is the Germans. It’s one thing to push fast in the U.S., but we want to push faster against the Germans.”

U.S. Bobsled head coach Mike Kohn, push coach Garrett Hines, and USA Bobsled and Skeleton CEO Aron McGuire. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“We are so incredibly blessed to have this facility,” said Tyler Hickey, who took sixth in the men’s driver push. “It’s probably the best in the world. We’re so fortunate to have ORDA, USBSF, New York state, and the whole community of Lake Placid/Saranac Lake supporting us. We’re excited to see what it does for us this year and the years ahead.”