The winter sports sliding venue that's home ice for the U.S. luge, bobsled, and skeleton teams is set to open.
The mile-long track at Mount Van Hoevenberg outside Lake Placid opens Thursday and will welcome several USA Luge athletes for the first official runs of the season.
Cold air has been trapped inside the chute, thanks to a refrigeration plant, several cold nights, a fresh coat of white paint and shades. That has enabled the track crew to produce a fast, smooth surface.
Competitors sliding first will be 2014 Olympians Matt Mortensen, Jayson Terdiman, Summer Britcher and Aidan Kelly.
The team will be on ice each morning through the end of the month.
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