Embyr-Lee Susko and Dylan Morse Win Canadian Luge Championships in Whistler
WHISTLER, B.C.—Embyr-Lee Susko successfully defended her Canadian Luge Championship titles at the Whistler Sliding Centre on Saturday to cap off a breakthrough season.
The 18-year-old Whistler, B.C. resident solidified her new position as the top feet first slider in the country after taking the senior title with a time of 1:19.24 in the wet and warm conditions.
“It was a good race today. I put my head back, had fun and was able to put two good runs together so I’m happy with it,” said Susko.
Susko introduced herself to the international luge community earlier this year by winning three straight Junior World Cup races with the final one coming on the 2010 Olympic Track she grew up on. She carried that momentum into her elite World Cup debut in Whistler where she finished ninth.
She went on to produce steady results on the elite circuit and a silver medal at the Junior World Championships. She also finished second in the overall junior women’s singles rankings, third overall in junior doubles with Beattie Podulsky, and was part of Team Canada’s third-place finish in the overall team relay standings.
“Today was a great end to an even better season, and great to solidify my results with one final race here on my home track in Whistler,” said Susko. “This season has meant a lot to me with finding success on the Junior World Cup circuit and starting to make appearances on the senior circuit. It has been non-stop fun and learning.”
Calgary’s Kailey Allan, who raced a modified season, was second at 1:19.460. Midori Holland, who did not race the December Word Cup in Whistler, but finished third in the Nations Cup when the world’s elite
sliders hit the start handles on her home track, was on the bronze-medal step of the podium again Saturday after clocking-in at 1:19.468.
On Friday evening, Susko also successfully defended her junior national championship title with a two-run time of 1:18.457.
Midori Holland (Whistler, B.C.) placed second at 1:18.890. Kailey Allan took third place with a time of 1:18.976 in the junior’s race.
Calgary’s Dylan Morse was also crowned Canadian Champion in men’s senior and junior racing. The 19-year-old clocked a time of 1:44.351 in the senior race.
“I put down two consistent runs. The big focus for me this season was to have consistent runs as much as I can so this was a symbolic end to the season,” said Morse. “I’m looking forward to building my start, getting some muscle on and coming back stronger next year.”
Morse completed his two junior runs Friday in a total time of 1:43.493.
Two of Canada’s most promising feet-first sliders, Maya Yuen and Bastian van Wouw, captured national titles in youth racing.
The 16-year-old Yuen rocketed to the top times in both blasts down the track for a two-run time of 1:25.060.
Yuen’s 2024 Youth Olympic Games teammate, Bastian van Wouw, took top spot on the podium in the men’s Youth Continental Cup race. The eighth-place finisher in men’s singles action at the Gangwon Games, van Wouw mixed together two consistent starts with a couple of clean runs down the technically challenging track to post a golden time of 1:22.214.
Yuen also teamed up with Beattie Podulsky in the open doubles race where they finished first at 1:52.029.
The Canadian Luge Association is a not-for-profit organization responsible for governing the sport of luge across the country. With the financial backing of from the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, the Canadian Luge Association safely recruits and develops the nation’s current and future high-performance luge athletes with the goal of regularly climbing onto the international podium. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.