Regan Lauscher Slides into Whole New World While Climbing Back into Top-10 at Luge World Cup
The 27-year-old Lauscher, who has had one of her most difficult seasons in her 14-year career, overcame a mental hump in Germany after finishing ninth with a two-run time of one minute 36.306 seconds.
Finally today I felt okay on the track after a good week of training, said the Red Deer, Alta. native. I have struggled pretty hard this season and I knew today if I could put down two consistent runs I was definitely going to be in the top-10 so this is a boost of confidence for me.
With the addition of new world-leading coach, Wolfgang Staudinger, who was recruited from Germany this year to lead the Canadian troops, the national team has been introduced to a whole new environment one that is focused on developing podium contenders.
I knew there would be change, but I realize I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of change. Everything was new including equipment, coaches, training and even the lines I took on the tracks, said Lauscher of her early season struggles. I slid 14 years thinking I was doing things right and now everything has changed and Im starting a new career. This is all good and I know it will make me better, but it will take time.
Despite a slow start on the long and flat start ramp in Königssee, Lauscher picked up significant time on the leaders sliding down the track.
We need to continue working on the start because I need to find that fast twitch strength and explosive power that the best starters have, but the middle of the season is not the time to work on this, said Lauscher, who noted the slow start is what separated her from ninth and finishing in the top-five. I need to swallow it up and accept that I am going to struggle this season, and need to work on it. Staudie (Wolfgang Staudinger) will implement knew training this summer that will help me improve.
Canadas doubles team of Chris and Mike Moffat also continue to find their lines to the top of the international luge rankings. The Calgary brother tandem has had a stranglehold of 11th spot this season on the World Cup. The Moffats posted an 11th-place time on Saturday at 1:35.759.
While the Canadians continue to work hard to find their top form, the Germans continued their dominance of the sportthis time on their home trackwinning five of a total six medals available.
The German women swept the podium. Tatjana Hqfner made her fourth consecutive trip to the top step of the podium after clocking a combined time of 1:34.662. Natalie Geisenberger was second (1:34.796), while Silke Kraushaar-Pilach was third at 1:34.980.
The German duo of Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch made history in front of their hometown crowd winning their 30th World Cup race. The German tandem posted a golden time of 1:33.890. Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, of Germany, claimed the silver (1:34.455), while Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber, of Italy, were third at 1:34.496.
Meaghan Simister, of Calgary, was the only other Canadian to suit up on Saturday and did not finish. The Canadian mens singles sleds hit the track for a World Cup race in Germany on Sunday.
The Canadian Luge Association is the governing body for luge racing in Canada. The Canadian Luge Association operates the Olympic Luge Training Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, which develops our nations high-performance luge athletes and promotes the sport across the country. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.
COMPLETE RESULTS: www.fil-luge.org
Mens Top-Five Doubles and Canadian Results:
1. Leitner/Rescher, GER, 1:33.890; 2. Wendl/Arlt, GER, 1:34.455; 3. Oberstolz/Gruber, ITA, 1:34.496; 4. Florschqtz/Wustlich, GER, 1:34.558; 5. Linger/Linger, AUT, 1:34.738.
Canadian Results:
11. Moffat/Moffat, Calgary, 1:35.759
Womens Singles Top-Five and Canadian Results:
1. Tatjana Hqfner, GER, 1:34.662; 2. Natalie Geisenberger, GER, 1:34.796; 3. Silke Kraushaar-Pielach, GER, 1:34.980; 4. Anke Wischnewski, GER, 1:35.405; 5. Natalia Yakushenko, UKR, 1:35.494.
Canadian Women Results:
9. Regan Lauscher, Red Deer, Alta., 1:36.306; DNF. Meaghan Simister, Regina
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