LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- The 2017-’18 sliding season is officially underway at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg combined bobsled, luge and skeleton track in Lake Placid, N.Y. The American women’s bobsled team of Elana Meyers Taylor and Lake Kwaza kicked the season off as the first sled down the mile long track.

“It’s just awesome to get started, the weather really hasn’t been cooperating, so to be able to get on ice with 70-degree weather is just awesome to start the Olympic season,” said Meyers Taylor, a two-time Olympic medalist, after her opening run. “Anytime you go down the track for the first time, it’s fast because you haven’t done it in so long, so I was just happy to get down and have a good trip and go from there.”

The U.S. bobsled team continues to train throughout the week in Lake Placid, conditions and weather permitting, from 9 a.m.-noon and national team selection races start Sunday, Oct. 8, also at 9 a.m.  The athletes who make the American 2017-’18 World Cup team have the inside track to competing this February in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The U.S. skeleton team begins training, Tuesday, Oct. 10, and U.S. luge junior national team athletes jump on the track for the first time this season, Tuesday, Oct. 16. They’re followed by the senior national team, Oct. 21.

This winter, Lake Placid plays host to three World Cup races, including the series opening IBSF World Cup bobsled and skeleton event, Nov. 9-10.

“It’s always nice to open the season at home,” Meyers Taylor added.  “It’s a good chance to put some valuable points on the board, especially during an Olympic year, and go from there.”

This event is followed by IBSF Para-World Cup bobsled racing, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, and luge World Cup action, Dec. 15-16.  

Additional events this season include international bobsled and skeleton training, Nov. 2-4, adaptive athletes bobsled and skeleton sliding, Nov. 13-17, North American Cup bobsled and skeleton racing, Jan. 8-14, and the 38^th Empire State Winter Games bobsled, luge and skeleton racing, Feb. 3-4.

For more information about all of the events being held at ORDA’s Olympic venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY: ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid

MEDIA ADVISORY: Media interested in attending team training should contact the respective National Governing Body media representative to make arrangements. For those interested in attending USA Luge training, please contact Sandy Caligiore, Sandy@usaluge.org. For U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton, please contact Kristen Gowdy, kristen.gowdy@usabs.com.

Media requesting credentials for any of the upcoming World Cup events can download credential request forms by visiting http://www.whiteface.com/media. Please complete the forms and return them to Jon Lundin, ORDA communications, jlundin@orda.org.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.