Luger Preston Griffall of Salt Lake City will take aim at his first World Cup medal when the international tour stops at the Utah Olympic Park near Park City this weekend.
The 29-year-old Olympian and doubles partner Matt Mortensen are 10th in the World Cup rankings after four races so far this season, and are coming off a season-best ninth-place finish in Whistler last weekend. Griffall graduated from Olympus High School, and finished eighth with former partner Dan Joye at the 2006 Turin Olympics in Italy.
The races will take place Friday and Saturday. It's the first time in three years that the tour has stopped in Utah.
The Germans are historically strong in luge, and this season is no exception.
Reigning Olympic champion and nine-time world champ Felix Loch is leading the men's singles rankings, having won twice this season ahead of countryman David Moller. Two-time Olympic champion and 10-time overall World Cup champion Armin Zoggeler of Italy also figures to be in the mix, while American Chris Mazdzer finished second last weekend the best finish of his career.
The German women have swept the top three spots in the World Cup overall rankings for the last 12 years straight they had a 105-race winning streak snapped in 2011 and are dominating again this season, with Natalie Geisenberger, Tatjana Hufner and Anke Wischnewski having claimed nine of the 12 medals available so far.
The Germans also are leading the doubles rankings, with Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt having won three of the races and countrymen Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken taking the other.
World Cup Luge
P At the Utah Olympic Park
• Admission Free
Friday • Men's Doubles - 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Women's Singles • 3:15 to 4:35 p.m.
Saturday • Men's Singles - 11:15 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Team Relay • 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.