“This is the longest track in the world, and it’s unique because it’s also the only natural track in the world, built with ice blocks,” Pikus-Pace said.  “It’s the most beautiful place we go on tour, and the track feels like a water slide, it’s so smooth.”

Pikus-Pace pushed a 5.63 in the first heat, breaking her personal best start time in St. Moritz by one-tenth of a second, driving into first position with a time of 1:11.49.  Pikus-Pace extended her lead in the second heat, finishing with a 1:11.25 for a combined time of 2:22.74. 

“I haven’t been as mentally focused on the World Cup races this season,” Pikus-Pace said.  “This is the race I’ve wanted to concentrate on.  I knew we were coming here for the World Championships, and I love this track. But I’m still shocked that I’m in the lead.”

In second was teammate Uhlaender, who had a push of 5.47 and a first run time of 1:11.74. 

“My first run felt OK, but I had some trouble in the corner Horseshoe,” Uhlaender said. “In the second run, I figured out how to steer in Horseshoe, and I started to scream, giggle, hoot and holler with glee because I could feel the speed, and something felt like it clicked.”

Despite tripping at the start, Uhlaender pushed a 5.50 for a second heat time of 1:11.78.  Uhlaender finished today with a combined time of 2:23.52, putting her in second place entering tomorrow’s final two heats.

“It’s been awesome sliding with Noelle,” Uhlaender said.  “We definitely push each other to be better.  I don’t have any expectations going into tomorrow, but I’m excited to get back on the ice.”

Only one one-hundredth of a second behind on her home track is reigning Olympic champion Maya Pederson from Switzerland, who finished with a combined time of 2:23.53 after having the third and second best runs of the day with runs of 1:11.77 and 1:11.76, respectively.

Bree Schaaf-Boyer (Bremerton, Wash.) will enter tomorrow’s final heats in eleventh place with times of 1:12.38 and 1:12.57 for a total of 2:24.95.  Courtney Yamada (Boise, Idaho) currently sits in twelfth position with a combined time of 2:25.62 (1:12.99, 1:12.63).

Pikus-Pace said part of the success of the U.S. teams this year has to do with an early season in Lake Placid, N.Y., which is the earliest track to open for sliding.

“We aren’t able to train on ice during the summer, so it takes a while to get the feeling of sliding back,” Pikus-Pace said.  “Having the track open so early gave us the advantage to get back into that groove faster.”

The final two heats of the women’s skeleton World Championship race will take place tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 26 at 13:00 CET, which will be 7 a.m. EST.

For LIVE results during the races, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

Results:

1. Noelle Pikus-Pace (USA) 2:22.74 (1:11.49, 1:11.25); 2. Katie Uhlaender (USA) 2:23.52 (1:11.74, 1:11.78); 3. Maya Pederson (SUI) 2:23.53 (1:11.77, 1:11.76); 4. Carla Pavan (CAN) 2:23.75 (1:11.94, 1:11.81); 5. Tania Morel (SUI) 2:23.95 (1:11.97, 1:11.98); 6. Michelle Steele (AUS) 2:24.07 (1:12.20, 1:11.87);…11. Bree Schaaf-Boyer (USA) 2:24.95 (1:12.38, 1:12.57); 12. Courtney Yamada (USA) 2:25.62 (1:12.99, 1:12.63);