ATHLETE RESULTS

Luge: Canadians had a strong showing at the first luge World Cup of the season held at Canada Olympic Park this past weekend.

In the challenge race held on Thursday night, Chris Moffat and Eric Pothier achieved a 2nd place. The Canadian team surprised the world of Luge by finishing with a final time of 44.614 seconds, just behind the 1st place team of Florschutz and Wustlich who finished with a time of 44.461. "We are really happy with the result, the hard work and sled changes we made in the off season paid off," said Chris Moffat. "We went from 14th at the World Championships to 2nd today." The Canadian team continued its success with the other doubles team of Grant Albrecht and Mike Moffat finishing in 4th place with a finish time of 44.704.

Tyler Seitz at the finish of the Challenge Cup

In the Men's competition Tyler Seitz also did well finishing in 6th place with a time of 45.887.

Chris Moffat and Pothier had a best ever finish with a 4th place with a time of 1:29.079 during regular doubles competition on Friday. Albrecht and Mike Moffat finished in 7th place with a finish time of 1:29.214.

In the Women's World Cup Abbie Lovatt finished 21st with a time of 1:30.999, Regan Lauscher was 22nd with a time of 1:31.006, Lindsay Danforth was 32nd, and Monica Gorham 41st.

Seitz set a new Canadian track record of 45.506 in men's singles action on Saturday. Seitz led the Canadian men's team with a total time of 1:31.219, which placed him in 17th place. Chris Moffat finished just behind Seitz in 18th place with a time of 1:31.310

"Training has been going well this season so I was hoping for a better result today," Seitz stated. "But we have to refocus now and get ready for the next World Cup in a couple of weeks." Other Canadians in today's men's singles competition were Jeff Christie (22nd), Jorgen Krause (26th) and Kyle Connelly (27th).

COACH: Maria Luise Rainer

Women's Bobsleigh: At the first women's bobsleigh World Cup of the season, the Canada 1 sled, piloted by Calgary's Christina Smith, with brakeman Lesa Stringer of North Battleford, clocked runs of 58.13 and 58.39 to finish with a final combined time of 1:56.52 to place 7th. The Canada 2 team of pilot Christine Fraser and brakeman Paula McKenzie, finished a mere .22 seconds behind their teammates, clocking a final combined time of 1:56.74 to finish 9th. Both Canadian teams had identical push start times in both of their runs.

Christine Fraser

"We had strong, very competitive pushes today," said Smith. "The weather conditions all week were snowy, but today was perfect and the ice was faster than it's been all week - about 1.3 - 2 seconds faster than in our training runs. We were one shy today from making our Olympic qualification, so this is making us very hungry and determined for tomorrow's race. I haven't shown all my cards yet." To go to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, both Smith and Fraser need only to have a top-6 finish once this season to meet the COA standards, and then be in the top 15 at the end of the World Cup tour.

The following day, in the second World Cup race of the season, the Canada 1 sled, again finished 7th. The Canada 2 sled finished 11th, posting runs of 58.20 and 58.41 to finish with a final combined time of 1:56.61.

The Canadian national women's bobsleigh team now moves to Königssee, Germany to compete in the third and fourth World Cup events on Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th.

COACH: Sigi Feuser

Speed Skating - Long Track (All-Round): Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg was the top Canadian Saturday at the season-opening long track speed skating World Cup in Berlin, placing fifth the women's 5,000 metres.

"This is a lot better start to the season than last year," said Klassen. "The ice is slower than in Calgary and I had a hard time setting a proper tempo. You just don't have as much glide." Kristina Groves was 16th and Nicole Slot 17th. In group 2 racing, Clara Hughes of Winnipeg, a double Olympic medallist in cycling in 1996, was third with the 13th fastest time of the day while Tara Risling was 12th.

Klassen in World Cup action last season/Reuters

In the men's 1,500, Kevin Marshall tied for 10th spot with American Derek Parra in 1:51.02. "I'm trying to approach this Olympic season in a much more relaxed fashion," said Marshall, a member of the 1998 Games team. "But I also want to show at these World Cups that I'll be challenging for the top positions in Salt Lake City. I know I have the potential to do that."

Dustin Molicki was 15th, Steven Elm 22nd, Peter Volcic 24th, and Jason Parker 28th.

Klassen finished sixth in the 3000m the following day with a time of 1:59.05. Groves was 17th, Risling 30th, Slot 36th and Selina Elm 40th.

Arne Dankers

In the men's 5,000, all the Canadians skated in Group B competition. Molicki was fourth in 6:40.40, which was the 11th best time of the day, Arne Dankers was 12th, Mark Knoll 15th, and Elm 23rd. "We're pretty satisfied with the start," said Canadian national team coach Mike Marshall. "Those that did well last year such as Cindy and Dustin had good opening races this weekend. And it was nice to see some of the youngsters post good times for this oval as well."

The second stop on the World Cup is next weekend at the outdoor venue in Innsbruck, Austria.

COACHES: Mike Marshall, Christopher Shelley, Moira D'Andrea, Xiuli Wang, Peter Mueller, Margo Fraser

Women's Hockey: Canada's National Women's team captured its third consecutive 3 Nations Cup championship, with a 5-2 victory over Finland, in Mikkeli, Finland last Tuesday.

Scoring goals for Canada were: Hayley Wickenheiser (assist: Danielle Goyette), Caroline Oulette (assist: Colleen Sostorics), Goyette, Jayna Hefford, and Jennifer Botteril.

Canada returns home from Europe on November 7th. The Team Canada players have a short break from training, prior to returning to Calgary on November 14th as they continue training for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Alpine Skiing: Alpine Canada Alpin announced the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski team rosters for the 2001-2002 season last week.

Last season, the Canadian Women's Alpine Ski Team established itself as one of the true forces on the World Cup circuit, collecting six podiums and their highest Nations Cup point total ever (1,103 points). This season sees the return of Mélanie Turgeon and Allison Forysth, two top-seeded skiers who give Canada a chance to climb the podium in every major race this season. Budding star Emily Brydon backs them up along with a wealth of young skiers that bring Canada great depth, including Anne-Marie Lefrançois, Sara-Maude Boucher, Anna Prchal, Britt Janyk and Geneviève Simard.

Thomas Grandi talks with the press

The 2001-2002 Canadian Men's Alpine Ski Team looks to improve upon a last year's season and seem poised to do so. This year's men's squad sees the return of seasoned veterans Edi Podivinsky and Thomas Grandi - two skiers who have seen much success throughout their careers who anxiously await Salt Lake City in 2002. Joining the pair in their Olympic and World Cup quests are young racers like Darin McBeath, J.P. Roy and David Anderson. This trio will be looked upon to challenge in the upper echelons of ski racing's elite.

Complete press release and rosters for the CAST
Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski team roster & bios