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2 THE FREE PRESS Thursday, February 18, 2010 www.thefreepress.ca By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff C TV’s Olympic Breakfast show had a live link-up to supporters of Fernie native Olympian Emily Brydon at Fernie Alpine Resort last Sunday morning. Viewers across Canada watched interviews with Fernie Alpine Ski Team president Chris Slubicki, team organizer Annika Collombin and Emily’s for- mer coach Mike Delich. Also on screen was a large crowd of banner wav- ing supporters who got up early to show their support for Emily. In Whistler, Rosemary Brydon appeared on the show to talk about Emily’s career so far and how the community has supported her. Emily’s downhill race scheduled for Sunday had to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions – but that meant that she had a chance to watch the show from the team house in Whistler, and sent a mes- sage to supporters to thank them for turning out for the cameras. Historic result for luger By Angela Treharne Free Press Staff C anadian luger and a regular visitor to Fernie, Sam Edney produced the best-ever Canadian Olympic finish in men’s singles luge on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 14). In front of hundreds of home-country fans, the 25-year-old roared through the icy chutes and chicanes of the Whistler Sliding Centre at 144 km/h to fin- ish seventh in his second Olympic Games. It was the best-ever finish by a Canadian in the men’s singles competition, beat- ing the old mark of 11th. “It’s been quite an experi- ence,” said Edney, speak- ing from a bus on the way to watch the biathlon event on Tuesday. “Hearing the roar of the crowd as you come down to the bottom of the track, it was the highlight of my career so far.” Edney grew up skiing in Fernie and his family is still part of the city’s ski racing community. Like the rest of the Canadian team, he was a long shot to win a medal. He joined luge after taking part in a camp in Calgary and represented Canada in Turin in 2006 but was lit- tle more than a backdrop racer, finishing 19th. He was ninth in the 2008 World Championships and benefited greatly when former luge Olympian Wolfgang Staudinger came over from the German team to run the Canadian program, focusing on mak- ing athletes stronger at the start of the race. Edney proved it at the opening race this season in Calgary. He was fifth on his home track - a career best. He finished eighth in Altenberg, Germany, and seventh in Cesana, Italy, ranking 15th over- all, Canada’s best hope for a medal heading to Vancouver. Then, on Friday, hours before the opening cere- mony, tragedy struck when Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control at 145 km/h in the final turn, hit a metal pillar and died. As a result, officials decided to move the men’s start line down the course to the women’s line. But Edney said he was not worried about the safe- ty of the track. “It was a freak accident,” he said. “I know the track was safe and nobody thought anyone would be killed. We just have to move forward. It’s like Formula 1 racing. There will be crashes, but racing will go on.” Edney’s mother, Linda, also said she was confident in the track, watching her son from the crowd. “As a mother, I am always nervous watching Sam,” she said. “But I was no more nervous watching him at Whistler than at any other track. There was con- fidence in the track from the sliders.” Sam finished 11th in the first heat and ninth in the second. On Sunday he fin- ished seventh in the third run, setting up his date with history. “I’m extremely proud,” he said. “Competing for my country, in my home country, is something I’ll never forget.” “The crowd was unlike anything I’d ever seen in any luge race before,” he said. “I think it motivated every one of these sliders, myself even more because it’s home.” Sam is now enjoying the rest of the Olympics with his family and friends, and hopes to come to his family’s vacation home in Fernie in March. “I hope to come to Fernie the second weekend in March for the post-Olym- pic wind down!” he said. “I have my ski boots with me here in Whistler so hope to get some ski- ing done here then head to Fernie for some late season snow.” Linda agrees. “We love Fernie,” she said. “We love the values and spirit of the town and hope to retire there.” Y oung skiers showed their support for Emily Brydon at Fernie Alpine Resort as CTV broadcast the Olympic Breakfast show on Sunday. Photo by R. Edwards Community broadcasts support for skier Mike Delich and Annika Collombin in front of the CTV camera in Fernie last weekend. Photo by R. Edwards Sam Edney celebrates becoming the most successful Canadian male luger at the 2010 Olympics on Sunday, taking seventh place. Canadian Press Spirit of the Olympics
