SIGULDA, Latvia: Martins Dukurs of Latvia and Janine Flock of Austria opened the World Cup skeleton schedule with victories on Friday, the first day of the international sliding competition season.
Dukurs, the reigning mens overall World Cup winner, got the 55th victory of his career. Flock, a past womens overall World Cup champion, earned her seventh career victory.
Germany had two sliders tie for second in the mens race, with Felix Kisinger and Alexander Gassner both finishing 0.79 seconds behind Dukurs two-run winning time of 1 minute, 40.44 seconds.
Flock won the womens race in 1:43.85. Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands finished second in the womens race, the best finish of her World Cup career, though was nearly a full second behind Flock. Endija Terauda of Latvia was third, medaling in her World Cup debut race.
No athletes from the U.S. or Canada are on the World Cup skeleton circuit to begin the season while dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions. The earliest any North American sliders are expected to join the World Cup circuit is January.