Photo: USA Skeleton Intercontinental Cup

WHISTLER, Canada (November 14, 2021) – Andrew Blaser (Meridian, Idaho) claimed his first-career Intercontinental Cup medal yesterday–a silver–in the series’ opening race of the season in Whistler to lead the U.S. team. Kendall Wesenberg (Modesto, Calif.) finished fifth in both races to lead the U.S. women.

“I am really proud of how I slid yesterday and the first run today,” Blaser said. “I have learned so much about myself and my sliding so far this year, and I am looking forward to the rest of this Intercontinental Cup tour. I am proud of the way all of Team USA raced on this difficult track, and the way everyone hyped each other and supported each other created a really great environment this last week.”

Before last week, Blaser had never medaled on the 2010 Olympic track in Whistler. He contributed two silver medals to the overall U.S. count in last week’s North American Cup races, and was eager to carry that momentum over to this week

He started his campaign for the medals with a start time of 4.68 seconds for the third-fastest downtime of 54.15 seconds in yesterday’s first race. He bettered his start by three-hundredths of a second, and moved up to a spot with a run of 54.24. Blaser claimed the silver medal, his first-career Intercontinental Cup medal, with a combined time of 1:48.39.

Evgeniy Rukosuev from Russia posted a two-run total of 1:47.38 to win gold. Austrian Alexander Schlintner was 0.01 seconds behind Blaser to take bronze in 1:48.40.

Stephen Garbett (Parker, Colo.) narrowly missed the top-10 with an aggregate time of 1:49.71 for 11th place. Daniel Barefoot (Johnstown, Pa.) clocked a total time of 1:50.80 to finish 18th.

Blaser pushed off the start in today’s first heat with a push time of 4.71 seconds, and was again in third place with a downtime of 53.59 seconds. He was faster at the start in run two with a push time of 4.65 seconds, but he fell back into sixth place overall with only the ninth-best run of 54.84.

“I am disappointed with my second run today, however I feel like I have personally made huge strides on this track,” Blaser said. “We added the German team and Evgeniy from Russia this week, which will always bring the competition level up a notch.”

Rukosuev swept the men’s races, winning today with a cumulative time of 1:47.13. Schlintner claimed silver with a combined time of 1:47.79, followed by Ben Fulker from Great Britain with a 1:48.21.

Garbett was 11th with a total time of 1:49.04, and Barefoot posted a 1:52.19 for 20th place.

“It was not quite the results I was looking to start the season with,” Garbett said. “Whistler was a little tricky for me on this trip. I’m looking forward to getting to Park City (Utah) and continuing to improve the rest of the season”

Wesenberg led the U.S. women with fifth place finishes yesterday and today. Wesenberg was the first American woman to win the European Cup overall title, and she won her first World Cup medal in 2017. She’s eyeing her second Olympic nomination going into the 2021-2022 season.

The 2018 Olympian pushed identical start times of 5.07 seconds yesterday for runs of 55.41 and 55.35 seconds for a combined time of 1:50.76.

Germany’s Sophia Greibel was victorious with a two-run total of 1:49.33. Canadians Hallie Clarke and Madison Charney finished second and third, respectively, with times of 1:49.55 and 1:50.17.

Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) had two strong runs of 55.63 and 55.28 seconds to finish seventh with an aggregate time of 1:50.91, followed by Sara Roderick (Truro, Mass.) in eighth with a combined time of 1:51.47.

Wesenberg was in fourth place after today’s first run of 54.51 seconds, but fell back a spot into fifth with a total time of 1:50.05. Graybill was just 0.02 seconds behind her teammate in sixth with runs of 54.47 and 55.60 seconds for a cumulative time of 1:50.07.

Roderick had the eighth-best first run of 55.00 seconds, but she struggled in the second heat and finished 12th with a two-run total of 1:51.58.

Nicole Rocha Silveira from Brazil won with a time of 1:49.00. Charney earned the silver medal in 1:49.55, and Griebel was third in 1:49.73.

The Intercontinental Cup will make its second stop in Park City, Utah, with double races held from November 23-24.

For media inquiries, please contact USABS Marketing and Communications Director Amanda Bird at amanda.bird@usabs.com.

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Results

Women’s skeleton #1 (11/13)

1. Sophia Griebel (GER) 1:49.33 (54.71, 54.62);

2. Hallie Clarke (CAN) 1:49.55 (55.01, 54.54);

3. Madison Chrney (CAN) 1:50.17 (55.12, 55.05);

5. Kendall Wesenberg (USA) 1:50.76 (55.41, 55.35);

7. Savannah Graybill (USA) 1:50.91 (55.63, 55.28);

8. Sara Roderick (USA) 1:51.47 (55.64, 55.83);

Women’s skeleton #2 (11/14)

1. Nicole Rocha Silbeira (BRA) 1:49.00 (54.25, 54.75);

2. Madison Charney (CAN) 1:49.55 (54.76, 54.79);

3. Sophia Griebel (GER) 1:49.73 (54.24, 55.49);

5. Kendall Wesenberg (USA) 1:50.05 (54.51, 55.54);

6. Savannah Graybill (USA) 1:50.07 (54.47, 55.60);

12. Sara Roderick (USA) 1:51.58 (55.00, 56.58);

Men’s skeleton #1 (11/13)

1. Evgeniy Rukosuev (RUS) 1:47.38 (53.57, 53.81);

2. Andrew Blaser (USA) 1:48.39 (54.15, 54.24);

3. Alexander Schlintner (AUT) 1:48.40 (53.98, 54.42);

11. Stephen Garbett (USA) 1:49.71 (54.91, 54.80);

18. Daniel Barefoot (USA) 1:50.80 (55.39, 55.41);

Men’s skeleton #2 (11/14)

1. Evgeniy Rukosuev (RUS) 1:47.13 (53.06, 54.07);

2. Alexander Schlintner (AUT) 1:47.79 (53.37, 54.42);

3. Ben Fulker (GBR) 1:48.21 (53.73, 54.48);

6. Andrew Blaser (USA) 1:48.43 (53.59, 54.84);

11. Stephen Garbett (USA) 1:49.04 (54.01, 55.03);

20. Daniel Barefoot (USA) 1:52.19 (54.77, 57.42);

About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS), based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. For more information, please visit the USABS website at www.usabs.com. Individuals interested in becoming a bobsled or skeleton athlete can visit www.usabobsledskeleton.com.

Blaser leads USA Skeleton with silver medal finish in Whistler’s Intercontinental Cup

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