LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) is set to open the combined bobsled, luge and skeleton track on Monday, Oct. 14, at the Olympic Sports Complex for U.S. national team training, weather and conditions permitting.

Workers are currently chilling the concrete and laying the ice on the 20-curve, mile-long chute on Mt. Van Hoevenberg, just five miles east from the two-time Winter Olympic village. Athletes from the U.S. luge, skeleton and bobsled teams will be the first athletes down. The first day of sliding features USA Luge athletes from 10 a.m.-noon followed by skeleton and monobobsled athletes from noon-2 p.m.

“This is one of the most exciting times of year for the Mt. Van Hoevenberg staff,” said ORDA president/CEO Mike Pratt. “The projects currently underway at the complex have kept everyone busy and now we begin looking forward to the winter season and the world-class events that will be coming through.”

Mark Grimmette, USA Luge sport program director added, “After spending a week in Lillehammer, our national team is glad to come home and train in the familiar surroundings of Mount Van Hoevenberg. We know the crew there will get the track in the best shape possible. Our goal is to pile up the pre-season runs so we can get our equipment dialed in and get everyone comfortable on their sleds. We have about six weeks to the start of the World Cup season, so these fall camps are very important to us.”

The season highlights at the famous track occur late-November through February when the complex plays host to three World Cups. Viessmann FIL Luge World Cup and BMW Sprint Cup racing returns Nov. 29-Dec. 1, BMW IBSF World Cup Bobsled & Skeleton returns Dec. 13-15 and IBSF Para-Bobsleigh racing is slated for Feb. 5-6, 2020.

Throughout the winter, visitors can also take bobsled rides down the track’s final 11 curves, with a professional driver and brakeman.  During the ride, passengers can feel the rumble of the sled’s blades as they pass through the tracks curves and straight-aways, including Shady, Labyrinth, and the Heart… curves recognized worldwide within the international sliding community.

Once at the bottom, visitors will receive a bobsled lapel pin, a 4x6 commemorative team photo, t-shirt, a Lake Placid Bobsled Experience sticker, membership to USA Bobsled and Skeleton and 20-percent off your second bobsled ride.

For more information about the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex track and all of ORDA’s Olympic venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Media interested in attending the first day’s training should contact the respective media representative to make arrangements. For those interested in attending USA Luge training, please contact Sandy Caligiore, sandy@usaluge.org. For USA Bobsled and Skeleton, please contact Amanda Bird, amanda.bird@usabs.com.

2019-2020 International Racing Schedule:

Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2019 – Viessmann FIL Luge World Cup/BMW Sprint Cup. International luge racing returns to Lake Placid. Nations Cup racing (World Cup qualifier) is slated for Friday, Nov. 29, while the men and women’s races are Saturday, Nov. 30. The doubles World Cup and BMW Sprint Cup competitions take place, Sunday, Dec. 1. Media credential application form can be found HERE.

Dec. 13-15, 2019 – BMW IBSF Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup. Racing starts Friday, Dec. 13, with men and women’s skeleton. Saturday, Dec. 14, features two-man and women’s bobsled, while Sunday, Dec. 15, it’s four-man bobsled racing. Media credential application form can be found HERE.

Feb. 6-7, 2020 – IBSF Para-Bobsleigh World Cup. One year after hosting the IBSF Para-Bobsleigh World Championships, the Mt. Van Hoevenberg track looks forward to holding para-bobsleigh World Cup racing. Lake Placid’s famed one-mile long track, with its twisting turns and high-speed descent, will test each athlete’s strength, finesse and courage. Media credential application form can be found HERE.

Additional International Events:

Norton U.S. National Luge Championships, Nov. 1-2; IBSF Development Camp, Nov. 4-8; IBSF North America Cup/Youth/Women’s MonoBob Training, Nov. 10-14; IBSF North America Cup/Youth Olympics Qualifier/Women’s MonoBob Racing, Nov. 15-21; IBSF Bobsled & Skeleton International Training Week, Dec. 5-8; IBSF North America Cup & Women’s MonoBob Racing, Jan. 3-9; IBSF Intercontinental Cup, Jan. 20-24; 40^th Empire State Winter Games, Jan. 30-Feb. 2; IBSF Para-Bobsleigh Training, Feb. 1-2; USA Luge Youth National Championships, Feb. 29-March 1; USABS Bobsled & Skeleton National Championships, March 20-21; IBSF International Development School, March 23-April 4

-- 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.