Australian sliders Emma Lincoln-Smith and Lucy Chaffer go into the first round of the 2011/2012 Skeleton World Cup, in Igls, Austria, this Friday in good form following a strong performance at a Europa Cup warm-up event last week.

Lincoln-Smith won both events conducted at on the Koenigssee track in Germany, the 2011 World Championship venue.

Chaffer finished second to her fellow Australian Institute of Sport athlete on both occasions, giving them a big confidence boost ahead of a World Cup season that will see them contest eight events, plus the World Championships in the USA.

The Australian skeleton team has moved to new sliding equipment for the upcoming season, and has taken the opportunity for some extended pre-season ice time to get comfortable with their new sleds.

"The last six weeks have been a steep learning curve with testing new runners, along with a new sled,” 26-year old Lincoln-Smith said.

“I feel I have a much better understanding of what is required from both myself and my equipment, and am feeling very confident in my ability going into the first World Cup race in Igls, Austria.

“I have had to take a few steps back in order to move forward these last few weeks, but I think it will put me in good stead for the rest of the season.

“The races in Konigssee were a good test for me to get my head into race mode and figure out a few things with what I feel works best for me for the World Cup races, and I feel much calmer and confident about this going into this week’s race.

“I was happy with my runs and was just trying to make each run better and better, relax more and more on my sled and trust myself and my abilities."

Chaffer, 28, has also put in a good preparation and is eyeing off her best season yet.

"The past six weeks have been very good preparation for this season, starting in Calgary to get used to the new sled, then off to Sigulda, Altenberg, Konigssee and Winterberg,” she said.

“The range of tracks was great to learn and experience what the sled can do and get my sliding ready for the World Cup season.
“This week has been good to get into competition mode without the pressure of the World Cup competition. Training was not going as well as I had hoped, but come race day I felt confident that my pre-season training was going to pay off.

“Overall there are still improvements that can be made, but I was happy to have two consistent days of racing. I look forward to the challenge in Igls for the first World Cup and the season in general."

The first event for the season takes place on the 1.22 kilometre track in Igls that was used for the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games. One of the first refrigerated tracks in the world, it has a vertical drop of over 98 metres, with an average gradiant of 8.5 per cent.

Lincoln-Smith and Chaffer’s biggest competition this weekend is expected to come from reigning World Cup champion Anja Huber, while her German team-mate, World Champion Marion Thees, will also be a strong contender.

The AIS scholarship holders will have two runs down the tricky Igls track, with competition on Friday evening (Australian time).