(ATR) The first week of the World Bobsleigh Championships featured the finals of the men's and women's skeleton as well as two-man bobsled.

St. Moritz, long-time bobsled destination.

(ATR) The first week of the World Bobsleigh Championships featured the finals of the men''s and women''s skeleton as well as two-man bobsled.

Noelle Pikus-Pace of the USA took the first gold in the championships, winning women''s skeleton with the fastest time in all four heats. She missed the 2006 Turin Olympics due to a leg injury.

In men''s skeleton, Gregor Staehli of Switzerland captured the gold. The St. Moritz resident won the skeleton bronze in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

German Andre Lange successfully defended his gold in the two-man bob competition, working with his alternate brakeman.

The event continues through Feb. 4, finishing with women''s bobsleigh, four-man bobsleigh and a combined competition.

For the combined race, the top male and female skeleton athletes and one bobsledder from each country will eac

Andre Lange of Germany ended with a gold. (Charlie Booker / FIBT)

h make one run. Their times will be added, and the team with the best time will be named World Champion in the Nation.

The major sponsor of the championship, Bauhaus, has logos on athletes'' helmets and graphics featured in international broadcasts. A spokesman declined to release te value of the sponsorship. Bauhaus is a do-it-yourself store with branches throughout Europe.

St. Moritz is a historic center of bobsled, site of the first purpose-bulit track, constructed in 1902.

The International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation holds world championships every year except Winter Olympics years. 2008''s championship will be at Altenberg, Germany.

Follow the competition at FIBTs website, www.bobsleigh.com.

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