Lucy Chaffer has produced the best result of the OWI/AIS skeleton program athletes in the opening America's Cup race in Calgary, Canada.

Chaffer slid to 14th place in her first skeleton event in a two-run time of 2 minutes 4.59 seconds, 4.07 seconds behind the winner, Jessica Palmer of the United States.

The Perth 23-year-old has had just 20 runs down a skeleton track, with her first one less than two weeks ago.

Fellow rookie Renee McCabe was two places further back in 16th place, 4.20 seconds off the winning time, with Amy Wallace in 19th place with a two run total time of 2 minutes 06.68.

Wallace was particularly impressive in her start times, posting the second fastest time in the first run and the fastest in the second trip down the course. She was also in second place in the second intermediate time in both runs, before making errors further down the course.

Of the remaining three members of the America's Cup team, Teniele Richards placed 22nd in the first run, Lisa Wright 26th and Chelsea Frost 27th, all three missing out on a second run.

A second America's Cup event will be held tomorrow on the Calgary course.