Paul Schommer, of the U.S. Biathlon team, right, teaches a spectator how to shoot Thursday at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.
(Enterprise photos — Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — The word “wow” was the only word Ivo Ferriani president of International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and chair of Winter Sports of the International Olympic Committee, said when he first saw the new facilities at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
“The result has been great, so that means that you are ready to have events without any limits on the size (or) the quality. You are ready for anything you want to do,” said Ferriani.
On Thursday the state Olympic Regional Development Authority celebrated Olympic Day by giving a tour of the newly updated facilities as well as showcasing the national teams for biathlon, bobsled and skeleton at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
“From my point of view, it was just to show the national teams utilizing the new facilities and the reaction to the new facilities,” said ORDA CEO Mike Pratt.
The tour, which was not open to public, started out by displaying the new biathlon range as members of the Junior National Team displayed the roller ski track as well as gun range. Four-time Olympic biathletes Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke, who were raised in the Tri-Lakes area and live in Lake Placid, presented the National Team.
A brand-new wheeled cart goes down the bobsled track Thursday at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.
(Enterprise photos — Parker O’Brien)
“I think it’s a fantastic exposure opportunity for the sport, and we really have everything we need in one venue now from a perfect range in trail network, great snowmaking, summer training and a perfect hospitality to support visitor, fans and parents,” said U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Max Cobb.
According to Cobb, the new range can accommodate the National Team, New York Ski Education Foundation athletes and other youth programs all training at the same time.
“This is brand-new and has an awesome gun range and the ski track is really hard, which is important for the teams that train here, which just helps you get better,” said four-time Olympic medalist in Biathlon Andrea Henkel-Burke, who competed for Germany and now lives in Lake Placid with her husband Tim Burke. “The downhill is not easy, but if everyone could do it…”
Previously the biathlon ski course and gun range were in a different part of the property. With the new upgrades and a new lodge, fans, visitors and family members can now easily watch the biathletes compete.
“You heard Lowell talk about the inspiration that young athletes have when they come out and see the sport, and NYSEF has a great program,” said Cobb. “I know ORDA is going to have a youth program for little kids, and I think that is exactly the kind of organic development we want to see.”
Helen Wilson of the the U.S. Biathlon Junior National Team shoots at targets Thursday at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.(Enterprise photos — Parker O’Brien)
The presentation was then followed by a shooting demonstration from members of the National Team, where spectators could try to shoot a biathlon riffle.
On the other side of the new Mountain Pass Lodge, was a presentation of bobsled and skeleton. The new venue and lodge was described as an Olympic village, with all three sports being housed in same building.
Additions to the new bobsled and skeleton facilities include a refrigerated indoor push track, warmup areas, weight room and even an indoor sprinted track for the athletes.
“It’s hard to compare it to other facilities,” said two-time Olympic bobsled medalist Curt Tomasevicz. “There are not really many that have the perks that this one has. Yeah, Canada does have an indoor ice facility. So does Germany, but all the things that come with it — the lodge, the warmup area, the location next to the track — all of that makes it a huge advantage for us.”
Along with the major indoor improvements are many changes to the outdoor track, which opened up in 2000. It can now be used all year round with the new addition of wheeled carts.
Lexie Madigan, a U.S. Biathlon Junior team member stands up to shoot Thursday at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.
(Enterprise photos — Parker O’Brien)
Many members of the national bobsled and skeleton team displayed the new indoor push track, as they have been preparing to train for the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2022. The Olympics also marks the first year that women’s monobob, a one-person sled, will be added.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist in bobsled Kaillie Humphries, who previously competed for Canada, led a group of onlookers at the indoor push track in a “USA” chant. “The Germans better watch out. We’re coming back,” said Humphries.
Humphries and other members of the bobsled and skeleton team explained the importance of the upgraded facilities.
With the major upgrades and additions to facilities at Mount Van Hoevenberg, it is expected that many more events will occur at the biathlon range and bobsled and skeleton track.
Lake Placid will be host to a bobsled and skeleton World Cup event in December and will host the Winter World University Games in 2023.
“The sports live here,” said Ferriani. “I think for the region and the community this is something unique. You’ve created a condition to live in the best place in North America.”
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