LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — While most of us were enjoying turkey, football and family during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a number of Lake Placid area and ORDA supported athletes were competing in World Cup and international events around the globe. Here’s how they fared.<\/p>\n
Alpine Skiing:
\nAndrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.), Tommy Beisemeyer (Keene, N.Y.): The alpine World Cup series opened in Lake Louise, Canada. In Saturday’s, Nov. 27, men’s Super G, Weibrecht, the 2010 Olympic Super G bronze medalist, earned World Cup points after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury. He finished 30th. Beisemeyer, the reigning NorAm men’s overall super combined champion, did not finish the race. Weibrecht and Beisemeyer are off to Beaver Creek, Colo. for this week’s Audi Birds of Prey World Cup.<\/p>\n
Biathlon:
\nLowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.), Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, N.Y.): The IBU Biathlon World Cup series opens Thursday, Dec. 1, in Ostersund, Sweden. Bailey and Burke headline the American squad.<\/p>\n
Bobsled:
\nJohn Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.): Bobsled’s Europa-Cup series visited Koenigssee, Germany over the weekend. Napier, a 2010 Olympian, piloted his two-man sled to a fifth place finish, Saturday, Nov. 26, before driving to a 13th place result in Sunday’s four-man event. The World Cup tour begins this weekend, Dec. 2-4, in Igls, Austria.<\/p>\n
Nordic Combined:
\nBill Demong (Vermontville, N.Y.): High winds in Kuusamo, Finland forced officials to cancel Saturday’s, Nov. 26, nordic combined jump and instead use Friday’s provisional round for seeding. Demong was 30th in that round and started his ski more than three minutes back. The two-time Olympic medalist was the 11th fastest skier on the course and was 19th overall. The series moves on to Lillehammer, Norway for a pair of events this weekend.<\/p>\n
\nOther athletes that we’ll following this season include ski jumper Peter Frenette (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) and biathlete Annelies Cook (Saranac Lake, N.Y.).<\/p>\n
\n— ORDA —
\nEstablished in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speedskating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.
\n