After a surprising team relay bronze medal at the FIL World Championships last month, Embyr-Lee Susko and Theo Downey returned to Whistler and prevailed in their respective national title races.
Susko clocked in at one minute and 18.313 seconds for her third straight Canadian Luge Championship. Fellow Whistlerite Caitlin Nash earned silver (1:18.468) and Trinity Ellis of Pemberton received bronze (1:18.632).
"Capping the season off with another two wins on my home track was awesome," said Susko, who has racked up 16 national titles throughout her development pathway since 2012. “It was really great racing to end a great season. It is always so fun to come back and race Canadian Champs while watching and supporting the next generation."
The homegrown athlete was also tops among junior sliders over Jolie Brodylo (1:19.291) and Ella Hodder (1:20.753). Susko has become Canada's top female singles luger, with a Junior Worlds silver from 2024 on her record in addition to U23 runner-up honours (fourth overall) at her individual World Championships race in February.
Among men it was Downey emerging victorious in both the senior and junior categories (1:42.893). Dylan Morse finished second (1:43.299).
"That was a super fun way to end off a year full of wins and progress," Downey spoke in a press release. "It’s always fun to take a step back and go head-to-head with my fellow teammates like we used to when we were little."
Fast-rising women's doubles pair Beattie Podulsky and Kailey Allan clocked in at 1:19.713, and their male counterparts Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski notched a time of 1:18.706.
Both doubles sleds combined with Susko and Downey to clinch third at the World Championships team relay.
