Trinity Ellis led all Canadian women at the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Championships from Jan. 27 to 29 in Oberhof, Germany. The Pembertonian finished in 18th spot with a two-run time of one minute, 25.448 seconds. Fellow Sea to Sky athlete Caitlin Nash of Whistler placed 22nd, as she was unable to complete two runs.
"Learned a lot the last two weeks and I’m definitely hungry for more!" said Ellis on her Instagram account after the competition. She has previously expressed her desire to become a perennial top-10 finisher at the senior world level and will be sure to learn from her recent experiences in Germany.
Germany swept the women's World Championships podium. Reigning Olympic silver medallist Anna Berreiter led the way (1:23.991), while her compatriots Julia Taubitz (1:24.049) and Dajana Eitberger (1:24.107) snatched silver and bronze respectively.
Ellis also joined up with Calgarians Dylan Morse, Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski to place 10th out of 11 teams in team relay. The Canadians combined for a three-run time of 2:36.139, over 10 seconds back of ninth-place Romania.
The Germans prevailed in the team relay as well, with Berreiter, Max Langenhan and the duo of Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken winning gold (2:22.266). Austria earned silver with Madeleine Egle, Jonas Mueller, Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher (2:22.289) and Latvia grabbed bronze thanks to Kendija Aparjode, Kristers Aparjods, Martins Bots and Roberts Plume.
Wardrope and Zajanski, Canada's lead doubles luge unit after the retirement of Tristan Walker and Justin Snith, slid to 13th place in a time of 1:25.535. Germany dominated once again, with Eggert and Benecken in first (1:23.517) ahead of their countrymen Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:23.668). Mueller and Frauscher raced to third for Latvia (1:23.709).
As a member of Luge Canada's junior national team, Morse gained valuable experience in men's singles by placing 28th, but he was unable to finish two runs. Austrian Jonas Mueller disrupted Germany's World Championship dominance by striking gold in 1:25.478, roughly one second ahead of silver medallist Langenhan (1:25.582). Bronze belonged to Austria as well, more specifically David Gleirscher (1:25.599).
