Bobsled and Skeleton National Team Trials to Begin In Lake Placid

Bobsled and Skeleton athletes took their first training runs of the season at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid yesterday in preparation for a series of national team selection races.  Athletes will compete in both Lake Placid and Park City, Utah this month for a chance to earn a spot on the 2013-2014 World Cup squad, and all national team races will be streamed live on the official USA Bobsled & Skeleton website.  This season will culminate with the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and points earned throughout the World Cup tour will play a significant role in which athletes are named to the Olympic team.  

"The team trials are incredibly important, especially in an Olympic season," said U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation CEO Darrin Steele. "We have a strong field of national team contenders, from veterans who have competed in multiple Olympics to rookies who will get their first chance to showcase their talents on ice. We are very excited to watch all of these athletes put it on the line for a chance to represent the U.S. on the national team. It is incredibly competitive, and we will unfortunately be leaving some amazing athletes behind."

The Lake Placid team trials schedule is as follows, with all times listed in ET:

Oct. 12: Women's and men's two-man bobsled from 7-9 pm
Oct. 13: Men's four-man bobsled from 7-9 pm
Oct. 21: Women's and men's skeleton from 8-11 am
Oct. 22: Women's and men's skeleton from 8-11 am

The Park City race schedule is as follows, with all times listed in MT:
Oct. 25: Women's and men's two-man bobsled from 7-9 pm
Oct. 26: Men's four-man bobsled from 7-9 pm
Oct. 29: Women's and men's skeleton from 7-9 pm
Oct. 30: Women's and men's skeleton from 7-9 pm

Race dates and times are subject to change, so please check the USA Bobsled & Skeleton website for regular updates.  Media, friends, family and fans can track the athletes as they vie for a coveted spot on the national team by watching a live stream of the events broadcast on the website thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Olympic Committee, West World Media and the U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation.

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: BMW of North America, Century 21 Real Estate, Under Armour, Kampgrounds of America, Vivat!, Global Forwarding, KBC Helmets, Boomerang Carnets, Latta Kefir, 24 Hour Fitness, Azad Watches, Park City Lodging, Inc., Ludus Tours, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Autism Speaks, EDAS/Ripxx, Tesa Tape, UberSense and Ferris Mfg. Corp. For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.