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Benshoof slides to overall World Cup bronze
// USA Luge // January 30, 2006
OBERHOF, Germany --- Tony Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.) became just the second U.S. men’s singles slider to win an overall luge World Cup medal when he raced to a fourth place finish and the overall bronze medal during Sunday’s, Jan. 29, series finale held in Oberhof, Germany. The 30-year-old Benshoof joins Duncan Kennedy, who captured overall World Cup silver medals in 1992 and 1994, as the two sliders to accomplish the feat.
“I’m pretty happy with the way the race came together today,” remarked Benshoof, who slid to a two-run time of 1 minute, 28.274 seconds. “Traditionally, this track has been pretty tough on me, but today, while I certainly didn’t put down perfect or clean runs, I did put down two pretty solid runs.”
Prior to this season, Benshoof’s previous best overall World Cup finish was in 2003-04, when he completed that season’s eight-race schedule fourth overall. This season, Benshoof slid to five medals (four silver and one bronze) in eight events and finished with 498 points.
“I think that I’m most happy with the fact that I stayed pretty consistent throughout the course of the season,” remarked Benshoof. “It’s such a long season, and you’re going to experience some highs and lows, but for the most part, I was able to maintain my focus throughout the year and remain relatively steady from race to race.”
Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler won the 2006 overall World Cup title with 544 points, while Germany’s David Moeller finished second with 506 points. Zoeggeler, who secured his fifth-career overall title two weeks ago in Igls, Austria, chose to train on the 2006 Olympic course in Italy for the upcoming Winter Games and did not race in Sunday’s series finale.
Germany’s Jan Eichhorn celebrated his first-career series victory on his home track. The 24-year-old raced to a combined time of 1:28.054, only .076 second ahead of Moeller, who raced to a second place finish in a time of 1:28.130.
“I am very surprised to win at home with so many fans and spectators at the track,” said Eichhorn. “It is wonderful and I am very happy. Now I can go relaxed to Torino.”
Russia’s Albert Demtschenko, the 2005 overall World Cup champion, finished third after clocking a combined time of 1:28.175.
USA Luge’s Jonathan Myles (Rumney, N.H.) and Christian Niccum (Woodinville, Wash.) slid to 17th and 27th-place finishes, respectively. Myles completed his two runs in 1:28.832, and finished the eight-race series 24th overall, while Niccum, who finished 32nd in the final rankings, clocked a total time of 1:29.392.
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