Defending champion Tina Hermann headlines the German women's skeleton team for the new International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cup season ©IBSF

Defending champion Tina Hermann headlines the German women's skeleton team for the new International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup season.

The 24-year-old double world champion won five of the eight races on her way to glory during the 2015-16 campaign and will be aiming for more success when the 2016-17 season opens in Whistler in Canada on November 28.

She is joined in the German squad by Jacqueline Lölling, who was second in the World Cup standings behind Hermann last season after claiming one race victory in St Moritz.

Completing the ranks is debutante Anna Fernstädt, who will make the step up to World Cup level after finishing third in the IBSF's Intercontinental Cup circuit.

Axel Jungk was the best performing German during the last men's World Cup season ©Getty Images
Axel Jungk was the best performing German during the last men's World Cup season ©Getty Images

In the men's squad, Germany have selected Axel Jungk, who was their best performer last season when he came fourth overall.

Also picked is Alexander Gassner, the 2013 Intercontinental Cup champion who was sixth in the World Cup in 2012.

Michael Zachrau, who was seventh overall last season, also makes the team.

Latvia's Martins Dukurs is the defending men's champion after a dominant season which saw him win seven out of the eight races on the circuit.  

Germany will host three legs of the new season, in Altenberg from January 2, Winterberg from January 9 and Königssee from January 23.