Mueller, Haugsjaa and Forgan lead USA Luge Start Championships

Doubles specialists sweep men's titles; two junior athletes reach women's singles podium as USA Luge kicks off 2026-27 season

Olympians Marcus Mueller, Ansel Haugsjaa and Chevonne Forgan led the way Friday evening (Oct 16) at the USA Luge Start Championships, held at the organization's indoor refrigerated training facility in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The annual competition served as the unofficial kickoff to the 2026-27 luge season, bringing together Olympic medalists, World Cup race winners and rising stars from the USA Luge Junior National Team.

The evening was highlighted by a sweep of the men's titles by doubles specialists Mueller and Haugsjaa, while two members of the Junior National Team earned podium finishes in women's singles.

In men's singles, Haugsjaa (Framingham, Mass.) captured the title with a combined time of 10.98 seconds. Two-time Olympian Zack DiGregorio (Medway, Mass.) and Mueller (Brookfield, Wis.) tied for second in 11.00 seconds, just two-hundredths of a second behind the winner. All three medalists are doubles specialists on the international circuit.

Haugsjaa and Mueller made their Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, finishing sixth. The Junior World Champions also captured their first World Cup victory last season in Lake Placid.

This year's competition marked the first Start Championships since the retirement of Tucker West (Lake Placid, N.Y.), a three-time Olympian and three-time World Cup race winner who captured a record 13 Start Championship titles, including his final victory in 2025.

In women's singles, Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.) captured the title in 11.80 seconds, edging Junior National Team member Breckan Luedke (Kimberly, Wis.), who finished second in 11.82. Fellow junior Kendall Achen (Manheim, Pa.) was third in 11.90.

The performances by Luedke and Achen were particularly noteworthy, as the two young athletes finished ahead of several established national team competitors, including 2026 Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah), who placed sixth in 11.95.

Forgan, a 2026 Olympian, is a World Cup race winner and multiple World Championship medalist in women's doubles. She and partner Sophia Kirkby (Lake Placid, N.Y.) finished fifth at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the first to feature women's doubles competition.

In men's doubles, Mueller and Haugsjaa completed their sweep of the evening's titles with a combined time of 11.00 seconds. DiGregorio and Sean Hollander (Lake Placid, N.Y.), both two-time Olympians and World Cup race winners, finished second in 11.07. Dana Kellogg (Chesterfield, Mass.) and Frank Ike (Lititz, Pa.) placed third in 11.39.

Mueller and Haugsjaa previously captured the Start Championship title in 2024, while DiGregorio and Hollander won in 2025. Both teams have enjoyed success internationally, with DiGregorio and Hollander earning their first World Cup victory in Lake Placid in 2023.

In women's doubles, Forgan and Kirkby continued their success at the event, winning in 11.79 seconds. Sadie Martin (Vermontville, N.Y.) and Brianna Gosnell (Evansburg, Pa.) finished second in 12.29, followed by Farquharson and Emma Erickson (Park City, Utah) in 12.37. The Farquharson/Erickson duo formed just for this event. 

Forgan and Kirkby, the defending Start Champions, have established themselves among the world's leading women's doubles teams. The pair earned three World Cup bronze medals during the 2025-26 season and have won multiple World Championship medals. Their international accomplishments include a World Cup victory during the 2024-25 season.

The Start Championships test one of the most critical components of luge racing: the start. Athletes use an explosive combination of upper-body strength, coordination and paddling technique to accelerate their sleds down the refrigerated ramps. With international races frequently decided by hundredths or thousandths of a second, a powerful start can make the difference between reaching the podium and finishing outside the medals.

The competition features two traditional starts and one reaction start, with the three times combined to determine the winners. The reaction start incorporates a randomly opening gate similar to the one used in international team relay competition.

Four-time Olympian Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa.), an eight-time Start Championship winner and five-time individual World Cup race winner, did not compete as she continues to recover from an injury. Three-time Olympian and World Championship medalist Emily Fischnaller (Lake Placid, N.Y.), the defending women's singles Start Champion, also did not participate.

USA Luge athletes will now turn their attention to the international racing season, which begins Nov. 28-29 in Winterberg, Germany. The nine-stop World Cup circuit will also include the 54th FIL World Championships, scheduled for Feb. 5-7 in Innsbruck, Austria.

2026 USA Luge Start Championships Results

Men's singles

Ansel Haugsjaa — 10.98 seconds
Zack DiGregorio — 11.00 (tie)
Marcus Mueller — 11.00 (tie)
Hunter Harris — 11.04
Jonny Gustafson — 11.10

Women's singles

Chevonne Forgan — 11.80 seconds
Breckan Luedke — 11.82
Kendall Achen — 11.90
Talia Tonn — 11.94 (tie)
Brianna Gosnell — 11.94 (tie)
Ashley Farquharson — 11.95

Men's doubles

Mueller/Haugsjaa — 11.00 seconds
DiGregorio/Hollander — 11.07
Kellogg/Ike — 11.39
Desautels/Davis — 11.91

Women's doubles

Forgan/Kirkby — 11.79 seconds
Martin/Gosnell — 12.29
Farquharson/Erickson — 12.37