World Cup skeleton racing starts in Lake Placid with top 10 for Ben Sandford.

Two time Olympian Ben Sandford, Rotorua placed 8th in the first World Cup of 2012-13 skeleton racing season.

In a new 3 run format the International federation were trialling, Sandford placed 8th overnight and then retained his spot in the 3rd heat today here in Lake Placid to finish in 8th position. Sandford said ‘I was disappointed with my performance today’. Sandford placed 3rd in Lake Placid at the 2012 World Championships so had high expectations.
Last years no.1 ranked athlete Martins Durkurs of Latvia won the race, with Tomas Durkurs,Latvia 2nd and Alexander Tretiakov, Russia was 3rd.
Sandford’s team mate Katharine Eustace of Wanaka started the 1st World Cup race well. She was placed 6th after the first run. Unfortunately a crash in one of the corners on her 2nd run dropped her out of the top 10, which meant she did not compete today in the 3rd heat. ‘I was really pleased to be in the top 6 after my first run and was confident that I could maintain that in my 2nd run. I pushed a personal best in the 2nd heat which got me off to a good start but in corner 10 I made an error and ended up hitting the roof and then the wall which took away all my speed. I am very disappointed but it gives me confidence going into the next couple of races’. Despite her crash Eustace still managed to finish 16th. The power houses of skeleton racing dominated the women’s race the top 3 were Sarah Reid and Mellisa Hollingsworth both of Canada with Marion Thees, Germany in 3rd.
The World Cup skeleton racing season moves next to Park City, Utah where Sandford and Eustace will race next weekend.