Britain's Amy Williams set a new track record on her way to the halfway lead in the women's skeleton at Whistler.
The 27-year-old set a new best of 53.83 seconds on run one and her combined time of 1:47.96 after two runs gives her a substantial lead of 0.30 seconds.
Team-mate Shelley Rudman improved from 11th to joint seventh while British men Kristan Bromley and Adam Pengilly lie fifth and 20th respectively.
Williams also survived a protest against the legality of her helmet.
Skeleton's international governing body rejected an objection filed by the United States team and supported by five other nations - which claimed ridges on Williams' helmet gave her an illegal aerodynamic advantage.
International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT) jury president Wolfgang Strauss said the helmet's manufacturer confirmed the ridges, or spoilers, "are an integral part of the helmet."
Therefore, by FIBT rule, the helmet - which also made it through a standard pre-race check - was deemed legal for racing.
Rounds three and four of the competition take place on Friday from 2340 GMT.
Williams admitted that her first run could have been better, despite being the only woman to break 54 seconds.
She told BBC Sport: "I don't really think about times, it felt really messy. But I love this track.
"I've got to keep level headed though and sleep well. And thanks to everyone at home for staying up late to watch!"
Rudman, who won silver in Turin four years ago, said her opening 54.66 seconds run was "terrible".
"It couldn't have been worse," added Rudman. "I was a bit skiddy at the top and made a mistake on corner 13 so I lost a lot of time.
"It was nice to make it better on the second run, but I need to improve more to get in the mix.
"It's not one of my favourite tracks, but at least I'm happy with my start."
Germany's Kerstin Szymkowiak lies second, with pre-race favourite and home slider Mellisa Hollingsworth in third, 0.39 seconds behind Williams.
Hollingsworth was the first down in run one her time of 54.18 seconds was a new track record, but she was less than impressed with her time.
"At least I'm still in there," stated Hollingsworth. "I can go home and get my work done and come back on Friday and do it right."
When the pressure starts building I'm hoping to capitalise on that
Kristan BromleyIn the men's event, Bromley improved from seventh after the first run to fifth with a 52.89-second slide. He lies only 0.05 seconds outside a medal place, but almost a full second behind leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia.
Dukurs broke the track record by almost one second on his opening run with a time of 52.32. His combined time of 1:44.91 is 0.26 ahead of Canada's Jon Montgomery, while Russia's Alexander Tretyakov is third, 0.84 back.
Pengilly lies in 20th, 3.01 seconds off the pace.
Now three-time Olympian Bromley hopes his top-level experience will help give him the edge over some of the leading athletes who are making their Olympic debuts.
"On this track five hundredths of a second is absolutely nothing. People are dropping or improving two to three tenths per run so it will all be made on that final run tomorrow," said Bromley.
"It's about focus and it really is a mental game. There's some young sliders in front of me who are prone to making mistakes. When the pressure starts building I'm hoping to capitalise on that."
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Great stuff from Amy!
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