LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- For many of the world’s best bobsled and skeleton athletes the road to PyeongChang, South Korea and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games begins when Lake Placid, N.Y. plays host to the BMW IBSF World Cup series opener, Nov. 9-10, 2017. The event marks the 17^th consecutive year that the two-time Olympic village and the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex track has hosted either World Cup or World Championship bobsled and skeleton racing.

The 19-member U.S. team and more than 130 athletes from 18 countries are expected to compete for medals and potential berths into February’s Olympic Winter Games. Racing on the one mile-long track gets underway, Thursday, Nov. 9, with two-man and women’s bobsled, as well as the two heats of women’s skeleton. Friday’s schedule is highlighted by men’s skeleton and four-man bobsled racing.

Athletes competing in the World Cup series opener will be doing so with heavy hearts. For the first time in 20 years, the American roster will not include Steve Holcomb.  The three-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Champion unexpectedly passed away on May 6.

BMW IBSF World Cup Lake Placid Schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 9

8:30 a.m. – Women’s Skeleton

12:30 p.m. – Women’s Bobsled

3:30 p.m. – Two-man Bobsled

Friday, Nov. 10

8:30 a.m. – Men’s Skelton

1 p.m. – Four-man Bobsled

MEDIA ADVISORY: All media interested in attending and covering the BMW IBSF World Cup Lake Placid event are required to complete a media credential application. Media credential applications are available by visiting www.whiteface.com/media.

Photos from the 2016 World Cup event can be found HERE. Photos courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid.

For more information about all of the events and activities on ORDA’s Lake Placid Olympic venues visit www.whiteface.com.

-- 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.