Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup Season Kicks off in Park City, Utah

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

 

(518) 523-1842, ext 106, abird@usbsf.com

For Immediate Release

November 2, 2009

Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup Season Kicks off in Park City, Utah 

PARK CITY, Utah- The bobsled and skeleton 2009-2010 World Cup season will kick off in Park City, Utah from November 9-14th following two weeks of international training on the 2010 Olympic course in Whistler, British Columbia. 

“The U.S. team is very fortunate to start the season off in North America where we expect to do quite well,” said USBSF CEO Darrin Steele.  “The first World Cup event falls after successful training on the Olympic track in Whistler, which really established an important Olympic year mindset.  Our athletes are focused and ready for what is sure to be a very competitive World Cup season, but they are taking nothing for granted.”

The schedule for the first World Cup event is as follows, with all times listed in MST:

Thursday, Nov. 12:  Men’s Skeleton at 9 am, Women’s Skeleton at 1 pm

Friday, Nov. 13: Women’s Bobsled at 3:30 pm, Men’s Two-Man Bobsled at 7 pm

Saturday, Nov. 14: Men’s Four-Man Bobsled at 4 pm

The women’s skeleton squad includes two-time World Cup Champion Katie Uhlaender(Breckenridge, Colo.), 2007 World Champion and hometown hero Noelle Pikus-Pace(Orem, Utah), and World Cup rookie Rebecca Sorensen (Fort Collins, Colo.). 

The three men competing for the U.S. in skeleton include multi World Cup and World Championship medalist Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.), 2007 World Cup Champion and local athlete Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah), and newcomer John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.). 

Utah native Shauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) will pilot USA I in the women’s bobsled field and will be accompanied by drivers Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.) and Bree Schaaf(Bremerton, Wash.).  Local athlete Valerie Fleming (Park City, Utah) will be a part of the fleet of six women’s bobsled push athletes to slide during the week. 

Come cheer on 2009 World Champion Steven Holcomb who hails from Park City, Utah as he navigates his home course, while Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) and John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) will pilot USA II and III.  Utah athletes Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) and Bill Schuffenhauer (Ogden, Utah) were named to the U.S. World Cup team last month and will vie for their chance to compete on their home track. 

A media credential request form can be accessed by clicking here, and can also be downloaded at www.usbsf.com under the Resources tab.  If media should have any questions regarding the credential, please contact Vicki Bingham atVicki.Bingham@olypark.com, or at (435) 658-4205. 

Please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 523-1842, ext. 106, or at abird@usbsf.com for any questions regarding the U.S. team.

About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: Allianz Life, Under Armour, Vilter Manufacturing, 776 Original Marketing, KBC Helmets, Luminox Watch Company, EDAS/Ripxx and Ferris Mfg. Corp. The USBSF would also like to thank the following sponsors and suppliers for their partner, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project:  Whelen Engineering, PPG, Columbia Sportswear, JEGS Automotive, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, EXA, Lumber Liquidators, Lincoln Electronics and Racing Electronics.  For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.