The Australian Skeleton Devleopment Program has made its debut in America's Cup competition, Lucy Chaffer, Ami Wallace and Renee McCabe contesting the first event in the 2007 FIBT Skeleton Invitational Tour in Park City on February 9 and 10.
 
After five days of training, the team lined up for the first day of sliding, with Chaffer leading the way into fifth place in a time of 1 minute 45.54 seconds, 2.19 seconds behind race winner Darla Descamp of Canada.
 
Wallace was one place further back in a time of 1:45.81, with McCabe in seventh place on 1:45.90, in a field of 15 women.
 
Chaffer's time was less than one second behind experienced US competitor Tristan Gale, who took the silver medal.
 
On the second day, Chaffer again led the way, improving her placing to fourth, 2.12 seconds behind the winner and less than two hundredths of a second off the podium.
 
Wallace was fifth and McCabe eighth.
 
The team will contest the second leg of the tour in Calgary next weekend.
 
(With thanks to Elissa Morley, AIS)