LUGE

MEN’S SINGLES

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 11-12.

* Best of the U.S.: Tony Benshoof of White Bear Lake, Minn., had an outstanding season in which he won four silver medals and one bronze on the World Cup circuit and was third in the standings.

* Best of the rest: Armin Zoeggler of Italy was so far ahead in the World Cup points race that he won even though he skipped the season finale to train on the Olympic course. Albert Demtschenko of Russia, the 2005 World Cup champion, is also likely to contend.

* U.S. chances to medal: Benshoof has a good shot.

* Little-known fact: Benshoof is only the second U.S. men’s singles slider to finish in the top three in the World Cup standings. The first was Duncan Kennedy, who was second in the World Cup in 1992 and 1994.

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MEN’S DOUBLES

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 15.

* Best of the U.S.: Mark Grimmette of Muskegon, Mich., and Brian Martin of Palo Alto have been climbing the podium, having won bronze in 1998 and silver in 2002. That last step will be difficult but not impossible.

* Best of the rest: Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch of Germany recently won their third World Cup doubles title over Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber of Italy. Both duos will contend for gold.

* U.S. chances to medal: Grimmette and Martin are capable of adding a medal to their collection.

* Little-known fact: There is no rule stipulating that both members of a doubles team must be of the same gender. But traditionally, men have ridden together.

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WOMEN’S SINGLES

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 13-14.

* Best of the U.S.: Youngsters Samantha Retrosi of Saranac Lake, N.Y., and Erin Hamlin of Remsen, N.Y., will be Olympic rookies. They finished 12th and 18th, respectively, on the World Cup circuit.

* Best of the rest: Germans have dominated the sport, led by 1998 Olympic gold medalist Silke Kraushaar and 2002 champion Sylke Otto. Kraushaar won her fourth World Cup title this season.

* U.S. chances to medal: None. Look for the Germans to triumph.

* Little-known fact: Kraushaar and Otto apparently don’t like each other and team officials had to caution them to stop sniping at each other in public.

-- Helene Elliott