The American was fastest on the first run with his time of 1min 00.21sec, and a joint-quickest second run of 1:00.49 to ensured he claimed victory with a finishing total of 2:00.70.

Balk had to stave off a strong challenge from Britain's Corie Mapp, who was 0.33sec slower in second.

The ex-European champion clocked 1:00.54 on his first run, and matched Balk's time on the second.

Switzerland's Christopher Stewart finished second overall on last season's World Cup circuit.

He began his campaign with a third-place finish at Lake Placid.

Stewart was third on both runs, completed in times of 1:00.61 and 1:00.51, which earned him a total of 2:01.12.

Ten athletes competed at the IBSF Para Sport World Cup opener, with fourth-placed Israel Blanco of Spain the best of the rest with his two runs of 1:00.88 and 1:00.98.

Blanco finished with a 2:01.86 total.

Lonnie Bissonnette of Canada triumphed in the 2019-2020 Para Sport World Cup and finished third overall last season.

He placed sixth in Lake Placid today, however, finishing with a time of 2:02.19.

The resort in New York State is also set to stage the second event of the season tomorrow.