Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager
(518) 354-2250, abird@usbsf.com
Bobsled and Skeleton Youth Olympic Games team arrives in Austria
IGLS, Austria (Jan. 11, 2012)-The U.S. bobsled and skeleton Youth Olympic Games team has safely arrived in Innsbruck, Austria and is excitedly preparing for Opening Ceremonies on Friday. Innsbruck will host the first winter version of the Youth Winter Olympic Games from Jan. 13-22, 2012, and the sliding events will take place on the combined track in Igls. The skeleton races are scheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 21, followed by bobsled the morning of Jan. 22.
Team updates will be posted daily on the official U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org. Here’s what the team had to say about arriving in Igls this week:
Jake Peterson, Men's Bobsled Brakeman (Princeton, Minn.)
“Anthony, Codie, Lizzy, Timi and myself have all arrived in Austria and we are now getting settled in. Today we went up to the track to start working on our sleds and check out the start. The experience of all of this is completely out of this world, and everything about the Olympic village is amazing. The housing, food and people here are great and they are treating us wonderfully.”
Elizabeth Maxwell, Women's Skeleton (Draper, Utah)
“Everyone is finally settled in and more or less used to the time change. We got our sleds unpacked and prepared today, and our equipment is ready for our first practice day. Everyone is super excited to be here and we've all started making friends with both USA team members and athletes from other countries. The food here is great-good thing I still need to gain a few kilos! I can't wait until opening ceremonies and everything that is to come.”
Timi Earl, Women's Skeleton (Heber City, Utah)
“Everything's going well here, and it's been a pretty good experience so far. I've been very excited to meet all of the other athletes from the U.S. and learn more about them and their sports. The village is great, and everyone has been so friendly and helpful, which is really nice. I'm excited to be able to go to other events and cheer on the athletes. I can't wait to start training, and I'm even more excited to race.”
Anthony Herringshaw, Men's Skeleton (Fort Plain, N.Y.)
“This is a very good experience for all of us and I hope we can carry this feeling with us wherever we go. I have been to Igls before, and this is a really great track. I’m excited for training to start, and it will be the best thing to happen in my life when we race. It’s been great to meet new people and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Codie Bascue, Men's Bobsled Pilot (Whitehall, N.Y.)
“Being over here is great and it means the world to me. I am so honored to represent my country in the first ever Youth Winter Olympic Games. It is absolutely beautiful here; the people are so nice and the food is great. I can't wait until Friday when everything finally gets underway and Opening Ceremonies mark the start of the Games. I also cannot wait to start training and finally be on the track in Igls, Austria again. I have had a great time associating with the other countries and can’t wait to meet even more people.”
For media inquiries, please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at abird@usbsf.com, or at (518) 354-2250.
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, Under Armour, United States National Guard, Kampgrounds of America, National Strength and Conditioning Association, Vivat!, Global Forwarding, KBC Helmets, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, EDAS/Ripxx, UberSense, Tesa Tape and Ferris Mfg. Corp. For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.
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