Lake Placid sliding track to open Friday

Winter is coming to Lake Placid, three days ahead of schedule.  The sliding track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg is expected to open for on-ice training Friday.

USA Luge will get the ice first, starting around 9 a.m., followed by the U.S. skeleton team later that morning and the U.S. bobsled team in the evening.

Sliding will continue Saturday, barring any unforeseen changes in conditions, then resume Monday — the originally planned opening date.

Workers have been making and grooming ice at the refrigerated track for several days, and typically keep it shielded from bright sunshine as a protective measure.

Lake Placid will host the World Cup bobsled and skeleton season-opening races starting Nov. 8. Luge's World Cup schedule opens in Austria Nov. 24-25.

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