Canadian Four-Man Sled 10th at Snowy Bobsleigh World Cup Race in Germany

ALTENBERG—Canada’s four-man crew piloted by Justin Kripps slid into 10th spot on one of the most difficult tracks in the world on Sunday in Altenberg, Germany.

Justin Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., piloted his new crew of Ben Coakwell (Saskatoon), Alex Kopacz (London, Ont.), and Josh Kirkpatrick (Calgary) to a time of 1:53.37.

“The snow was really the difference today. When it is snowing like that anything can happen,” said Tom De La Hunty, team manager, Canada Bobsleigh Team.

And it certainly did.

Snow got the best of the Canucks in their first start where they pushed the 14h fastest time.

“Which just got stuck in the snow in the grooves,” added De La Hunty as the team was on the road to Winterberg, Germany for the next stop on the World Cup. “Justin didn’t drive particularly well but we had a great second run. The boys pushed the sixth fastest time and it was great for them to come back and make sure we are in the top 10 next week.”

The German sleds swept the World Cup four-man podium. Francesco Friedrich teamed up with Martin Putz, Jannis Baecker and Thorsten Margis for the gold medal at 1:51.79.

Nico Walther, Marko Huebenecker, Christian Poser and Eric Franke slid to the silver medal with a time of 1:51.88, while Maximillian Arndt, Kevin Kuske, Ben Heber and Kevin Korona completed the triple-medal haul for the Germans with a time of 1:52.03.

Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners –– BMW Canada, Conceptum Sport Logistics – along with the Government of Canada, and Own the Podium. Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops Olympic and world champions. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.

Complete World Cup Four-Man Bobsleigh Results: http://www.ibsf.org/en/component/events/event/166115