Calgary (pps) The Canadian brothers Chris and Mike Moffat achieved a remarkable comeback to the Viessmann Luge World Cup after a three-year break. The Moffats are on a straight road to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy (February 10-26) since finishing sixth at Cesana Pariol and eighth at Altenberg. They must be reckoned with at the next competition on their home-track at Canada Olympic Park, COP.
“We are amazed about this progress. Everything went much faster that we expected”, Chris says, adding: “We now know that we can consistently finish among the top five.” Fifth place is something like a magic figure for the 26-year-old: “It´s kind of a blast from the past for us.” Together with his then doubles partner Eric Pothier Chris finished fifth at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, USA. It is the best result of Canadian lugers at Olympic Games. His brother Mike and his partner Grant Albrecht were twelfth in Salt Lake City.

The Moffat brothers are the figureheads of a strong Canadian team built up in the past few years by Walter Corey and German coach Robert Fegg (fourth at the 1999 Worlds). Last season Regan Lauscher achieved the best Canadian World Cup result ever by finishing runner-up at Lake Placid. This season the 26-year-old has consistent results among the top 15.
“My starting times are good”, Regan Lauscher says, “but we are still experimenting with the sled in order to be prepared for any situation at the Winter Olympics.” She is currently holding 14th position in the overall ranking, three ahead of team-mate Meaghan Simister.

Sam Edney had his best World Cup result ever by finishing 14th at Altenberg. Edney, the 2002-2003 World Cup overall junior champion in the doubles together with his partner Gwyn Lewis, decided to concentrate solely on the singles prior to the current season. “In that competition I have a better chance to qualify for the Olympics” the 21-year-old reasoned. Edney is currently in 28th position in the Viessmann Luge World Cup rankings; Jeff Christie is the best Canadian in 23rd.