Lake Placid (pps) The favorites won in the qualification races for the 2008/2009 Viessmann World Cup series of the United States Luge Association (USLA). In women’s singles, besides Erin Hamlin, who was seeded as the best US athlete in the 2007/2008 women’s singles season and thus did not have to take part in the qualification races, Ashley Walden (2005 World Championships fourth placer), who won all three race-offs, Julia Clukey (2008 World Championships twelfth placer) as well as the 16 year young Junior World Champion Kate Hansen made it to the US squad.

In men’s singles the three available World Cup tickets went to Ashley’s husband Bengt Walden, Robby Huerbin, silver medalist at the 2008 US championships, and to Chris Mazdzer, overall Junior World Cup silver medalist. Tony Benshoof, 2006 Olympic fourth placer, was seeded as best US athlete in the previous season’s Viessmann World Cup men’s singles competitions.

In doubles, the two spots in the squad were grabbed by Mark Grimmette/Brian Martin, who are decorated with two Olympic medals, bronze in 1998 and silver in 2002, and the Junior World Championships silver medalists Chris Mazdzer/Jayson Terdiman. Christian Niccum/Dan Joye, 2008 World Championships sixth placers, had been seeded due to their results of the previous season.

The US luge team will now head to the artificial track in Park City for eight days of training followed by the International Training Week at the future Olympic track in Whistler (CAN).