Additional Information
Highlights
Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
---|
Olympic Winter Games |
15 | Doubles | 2010 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | 1:24.220 |
World Championships |
2 | Team Relay | 2013 | Whistler, BC, CAN | 2:04.272 |
3 | Team Relay | 2012 | Altenberg, GER | 2:22.404 |
4 | Doubles | 2013 | Whistler, BC, CAN | 1:13.346 |
8 | Doubles | 2011 | Cesana Pariol, ITA | 1:34.146 |
13 | Doubles | 2012 | Altenberg, GER | 1:24.495 |
World Cup Rankings overview - displays all rankings from 2010/11, top three for earlier seasons |
Season | Doubles |
---|
2013/2014 | 7 |
2012/2013 | 8 |
2011/2012 | 10 |
2010/2011 | 12 |
Best performance per season in World Cup events from 2010/2011 |
Season | Doubles | Relay |
---|
2013/2014 | 1 x 3rd | 4 x 2nd |
2012/2013 | 2 x 4th | 2 x 2nd |
2011/2012 | 1 x 6th | 1 x 1st |
2010/2011 | 1 x 10th | 1 x 2nd |
Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
---|
Ten best World Cup performances in current season |
2 | Team Relay | 2013/2014 | Altenberg, GER | 2:26.191 |
2 | Team Relay | 2013/2014 | Konigssee, GER | 2:44.499 |
2 | Team Relay | 2013/2014 | Whistler, BC, CAN | 2:04.202 |
2 | Team Relay | 2013/2014 | Igls, AUT | 2:12.172 |
3 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Konigssee, GER | 1:40.709 |
4 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Whistler, BC, CAN | 1:13.378 |
4 | Team Relay | 2013/2014 | Park City, UT, USA | 2:19.217 |
5 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Winterberg, GER | 1:28.110 |
8 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Sigulda, LAT | 1:24.304 |
8 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Altenberg, GER | 1:24.399 |
8 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Oberhof, GER | 1:24.168 |
8 | Doubles | 2013/2014 | Park City, UT, USA | 1:28.046 |
LegendDNS-Did not start, DNQ-Did not qualify for final run, DNF-Did not finish, DSQ-Disqualified
- Hobbies: Playing guitar, writing music and lyrics for his band, travelling, computer graphics, skiing. (NOC Media Guide, 2014; luge.ca, 16 Feb 2013)
- Languages Spoken: English
- Position Style: Front (NOC Media Guide, 2014)
- Previous Olympics: Vancouver 2010
- Occupation: Athlete
- Coach: Wolfgang Staudinger, GER; Bernhard Glass, GER (NOC Media Guide, 2014)
- Injuries: In 2012 he required surgery on his hand after severing tendons in what he described as a "stupid accident" away from the track. (canada.com, 31 Jan 2013)
In 2011 he missed most of summer training after contracting swine flu. (canada.com, 31 Jan 2013)
Additional Information
Start of sporting careerHe first tried luge at age 10. (NOC Media Guide, 2014)
Reason for taking up this sportHis parents signed him up for ski jumping, biathlon and luge camps at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, AB, Canada. He chose to persevere with luge because it was the fastest. (NOC Media Guide, 2014)
AmbitionsTo win gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Facebook page, 24 Nov 2013)
Most influential person in careerHis parents. (olympic.ca, 31 Dec 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto"It's not the destination, it's the journey." (NOC, 02 Feb 2010)
GeneralFINANCIAL PRESSURES
Neither he nor partner Justin Snith have been able to secure personal sponsors. The financial constraints mean it is impossible for him to move out of his parents' home or consider a university education. He therefore sees winning a medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi as the most viable way of raising their profile and gaining sponsorship. "It's getting more and more difficult to justify doing this compared to going to school and starting my real life. I just want to be clear, it's definitely not about the money, it's about my ability to continue sliding, because I love it. It's been my favourite thing in the entire world since I was 10 years old." (canada.com, 31 Jan 2013)
LETTING JOKES SLIDE
He admits doubles luge is a prime target for jokes. "Two guys lying on top of each other in spandex, there have always been jokes about it, but we embrace it. We have to do everything together on a sled. If we're not working together the sled just doesn't run." (thestar.com, 09 Feb 2013)
FROM SINGLES TO DOUBLES
He was racing singles as a junior until the only Canadian junior doubles team broke up, and he was then teamed with Justin Snith. He and Snith became the youngest double luge team in history to represent Canada at an Olympic Winter Games, achieving the feat at the 201 Games in Vancouver. The pair then secured Canada's best ever world championship finish in double luge at the 2013 World Championships in Whistler, BC, Canada, by placing fourth. (cbc.ca, 01 Feb 2013; walker-snith.com, 31 Jan 2012)
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