Skeleton Team Trials get underway at Utah’s Olympic Park

Photo: USABS

Top athletes will compete for coveted World Cup spots Friday and Saturday

PARK CITY, Utah — The U.S. National Skeleton Team Trials get underway Friday and Saturday at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP). Top athletes, like five-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender, will compete for spots on the World Cup, Europa Cup, and North America’s Cup teams.

Selections for the respective tours this season are especially important because of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Cortina in 2026. Three men and three women will be selected to race on the World Cup Tour, the most elite of the three tours.

“It’s great to be hosting the team trials for skeleton and utilizing the track in Park City. This is a big opportunity for athletes to secure their spots on tour; they’ve been training all summer for these trials,” Valerie Fleming, program manager for Bobsled and Skeleton at the UOP, said.

In the above video: A forerunner slams into the wall exiting curve 6 while training Tuesday night at the UOP.

Spectator’s tips: The trials for men and women will take place from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2. Spectators can park at the museum parking lot and walk up to and along the track to watch athletes as they blaze by at speeds up to 80 mph. Highlight areas for watching the trials are the start and curve 12, which is also known as the Olympic corner. Parking and spectating is free of charge.