Benshoof was the race’s first slider and he said that from the beginning, the wind was blowing pretty hard.  “I could really feel it up top.  This track is hard enough to get down and with the wind blowing in places like curve-nine, kreisel and 14, it makes it even more difficult,” remarked Benshoof,  who held on for a single-heat time of 55.042 seconds.  “The wind was pushing me around pretty good, but all in all, I was pretty happy with my run.  I had one big mistake and that was in curve-15, where I had a big skid and I lost a tenth or two, but I think I was able to put down a pretty solid run.”

The medal is Benshoof’s first this season and he says it will give him momentum heading into the 39th World Luge Championships in two weeks, Feb. 2-4, in Igls, Austria.  “There’s no doubt, winning a medal before Worlds should help me feel a little more relaxed,” said the 31-year-old.  “The sled’s also been running really well over the last couple of races, so I’m feeling a little more confident.”

Zoeggeler notched his 34th-career series victory and surpassed both German Georg Hackl and Austrian Markus Prock for the most-career series wins.  The 32-year-old had sat on 33-career World Cup wins for two weeks before he posted a one-run time of 54.683. 

The victory also allowed the five-time overall World Cup champion to extend his overall series lead over Germany’s David Moeller, who emerged as Sunday’s silver medalist in 54.867.

Zoeggeler has 615 points, after seven races, while Moeller sits in second place with 560.  Switzerland’s Stefan Hoehener holds down the third place spot with 368 points, while Benshoof is ranked ninth with 258 points.