O'Shea's two-run time of 1 min 50.34 seconds ended a wait of more than four years for her second Skeleton World Cup medal, having won silver in La Plagne, France in December 2011.

It also ensured the US women's team’s first World Cup win since Noelle Pikus-Pace triumphed in the 2013-14 season finale in Königssee, Germany.

"I'm surprised at how hard it is to put into words," O'Shea, the 2009 North American Cup winner, told the Associated Press.

"You'd think like you'd know exactly what it would feel like to win, but you really don't."

Switzerland’s Marina Gilardoni’s posted a time of 1:50.43 to take second, which is the best World Cup result to date for the pilot who came fourth at the 2015 European Championships.

Gilardoni, who shared the top spot with Great Britain’s Laura Deas following the first run, went on to break a new starting record - 5.19 seconds - on her second attempt.

Britain’s Deas, who won the season opener in the German town of Altenberg, finished 0.25 seconds off the pace in third spot.

Following the fourth of eight races in this season's IBSF World Cup, Germany’s Tina Hermann remains at the top of the standings with 852 points after coming fourth in Lake Placid.

Compatriot Jacqueline Lölling, silver medallist at last year’s World Championships in Winterberg, Germany is second with 780 points, followed by Deas on 761.

The season is due to continue in the US on January 16, with the fifth leg scheduled for Park City.