LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- There’s now no denying it, autumn is officially here. The days are shorter, mornings are cooler, leaves have changed color and the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex sliding track, in Lake Placid, N.Y. opens for the season, weather permitting, Monday, Oct. 17, for U.S. sliding athletes. The U.S. luge team takes to the ice at 8 a.m., followed by the skeleton squad at 10:30 a.m. American bobsled athletes slide for the first time at 2 p.m.

The 2016-’17 sliding season is setting up to be a very busy one for the famed track.  In December, the mile-long, 20-curve course will play host to Viessmann Luge World Cup racing and Viessmann Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup action.

“We’re very excited to welcome these two World Cups to Lake Placid. Our crews will be hard at work to prepare the best track conditions possible for the world’s best to compete. The Mt. Van Hoevenberg track, long known for being one of the most technical, will provide the perfect setting for athletes and spectators alike,” remarked Olympic Sports Complex general manager Tony Carlino.

Luge World Cup racing returns to Lake Placid for a second consecutive winter, when the world’s top sliders tackle the track, Dec. 2-3. This marks the 15^th time that Lake Placid has hosted a luge World Cup event. Action will be held in men and women’s singles, doubles and the fan favorite, team relay.

Once the world’s top luge athletes leave town, the world’s best bobsled and skeleton athletes will pull in for their World Cup event, Dec. 16-17. Returning for a 16^th consecutive year of either World Cup or World Championship racing athletes are slated to race in two and four-man bobsled, women’s bobsled and men and women’s skeleton.

Additional events on the track this season will include North American bobsled and skeleton racing, Jan. 15-27, and the 37^th Empire State Winter Games, bobsled, luge and skeleton racing, Feb. 2-5. Plus visitors to the Lake Placid region can enjoy bobsled passenger rides.  With a professional driver and brakeman, rides begin at the half-mile point of the track and can reach speeds in excess of 60 miles-per-hour.

For more information about all of the events being held at 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 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.

Attached are the media credential request forms for the FIL Luge World Cup and FIBT Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup races. Please complete the forms and return them to Jon Lundin, ORDA communications, jlundin@orda.org.

IBSF World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton racing photos from 2015 can be found HERE. Photos from the 2015 FIL Luge World Cup can be found HERE. All photos courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid.

-- 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.