The Americans are due to train on the 1994 Olympic course from tomorrow until next Sunday (October 9), with two sliding sessions daily, as well as dry land training.

Their trip will conclude on Sunday with the Lillehammer Cup exhibition race, featuring many of the World Cup tour’s top athletes.

In addition to the Olympic Winter Games, Lillehammer has hosted many World Cup events, the World Championships, and in recent years, has been the first course around the world to open.

The 1994 Olympic layout poses just enough difficulty to keep the athletes focused after being away from the ice for seven months. 

Upon the team's return to Lake Placid, a group of national and junior national team members will join them on the ice when the Mount Van Hoevenberg course welcomes athletes later this month, weather permitting. 

"I’m excited to get the season started again," said Sochi 2014 Olympian and doubles racer Matt Mortensen.

"My partner and I have been working hard this summer and are looking forward to compete again.

"When we go to Lillehammer we’ll be looking to get as many training runs as we can to prepare for the rest of the season." 

The start of the domestic racing season is fast approaching with the first event, the Norton National Championships, due to take place at Lake Placid on October 28 and29.

Meanwhile, the 2016-2017 World Cup season is scheduled to get underway on November 26 and 27 in Winterberg in Germany.