The American team will face a powerful Russian offense and a passionate crowd of Russian fans in Saturday’s preliminary round matchup.

The secretive suit, designed by Under Armour with advice from aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, had been billed as the “fastest speedskating suit in the world.”

The team relay combines one men’s slider, one women’s slider and one doubles team from each nation, and is the last luge event of the games.

The United States stayed alive in the tournament by picking up an 8-6 win over Japan in another evening session game.

Abbott crashed to the ice on his first jump and slid into the padded end boards, staying down for an extended period before struggling to his feet and finishing his routine.