Sam Edney and Jesse Lumsden, two former Olympic athletes who once competed together on Canada’s sliding teams, have embarked on an entirely new journey as high-performance directors (HPD) for their respective sports Winter Olympic luge and Bobsleigh. Both of them, while renowned athletes in their own right, have now taken on the challenge of leading Canada’s sliding sports programs, navigating the challenges that come with overseeing the development of elite athletes in disciplines that demand precision, speed, and a blend of athleticism and strategy.
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Overcoming Infrastructure Challenges: The Future of Canadian Winter Olympic Sliding Sports
While their journey as athletes may have been physically demanding, the responsibility of shaping the future of Canadian Winter Olympic luge and Bobsleigh is an entirely different kind of test. They not only face the task of improving their sports and developing the next generation of Winter Olympic medalists, but also the added challenge of doing so with limited resources and a shrinking infrastructure.
Edney and Lumsden’s leadership roles come at a time when Canadian Sliding Winter Olympic sports have achieved international acclaim. Canada’s athletes have made a mark in both luge and bobsled at the Winter Olympic, with podium finishes in each of the last five Games. Yet, as leaders, Edney and Lumsden now need to overcome several significant obstacles, most notably the closure of Calgary’s sliding track—a critical training facility for Canada’s top athletes. You Can Read USA Winter Olympic Bobsleigh Inspiring Journeys of Hakeem Abdul-Saboor and Frank Delduca
The Impact of the Calgary Sliding Track Closure on Canadian Sliding Sports
Canada has long been a powerhouse in sliding sports, with the 1988 Winter Olympic in Calgary providing the foundation for generations of elite athletes. The sliding track at WinSport, located at Canada Olympic Park, was an integral part of the country’s sliding infrastructure. However, in 2019, the track was shut down due to the need for a $25-million renovation. The lack of action on this front has left Canada’s sliding teams in a precarious position, forcing athletes to travel across the country to train and compete.
The closure of this facility represents a massive loss to Canadian sliding sports, as it served as the primary training ground for both Winter Olympic luge and Bobsleigh athletes. WinSport, once considered one of the best sliding tracks in the world, allowed Canadian athletes to train in their own backyard, avoiding the logistical and financial challenges of training abroad. Without it, the athletes and national sports organizations (NSOs) have been left scrambling to find alternatives.
The Strain of Limited Training Facilities on Canadian Sliding Sports
The comparison is if you took half the ice rinks away in the country, hockey and Winter Olympic figure skating would be in disarray said Sam Edney, who remembers hundreds of runs on the track throughout his career. “It just changes the dynamic of the sports completely. We’re now scrambling to find ways to bring people to a location that’s not as easy to get to, or to live out of, or to train full time.
As it stands, Canada’s only other sliding track is in Whistler, British Columbia, which has far fewer resources, a smaller population base to draw from, and is more difficult to access for athletes living outside the Vancouver area. The resulting lack of centralized training options has made it harder to maintain a steady stream of young talent in these sports.
Overcoming the Infrastructure Crisis: A Leadership Challenge for Edney and Lumsden
The closure of the sliding track has had a significant impact on both bobsled and luge programs, but especially on the development of younger athletes who are just starting to build their careers. Without a track that meets the international standards for competition and training, athletes are forced to travel to other countries, significantly increasing the financial burden on the athletes and the governing bodies. This situation puts Canada at a competitive disadvantage when compared to nations with functioning facilities like Germany, Austria, and the U.S.
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Both Edney and Lumsden are well aware of the challenges this poses to the long-term development of Canadian athletes. In many ways, they are leading teams that are grappling with an infrastructure crisis while trying to maintain competitive performance on the world stage. Despite this, both men continue to be optimistic about the future, leaning on their leadership skills, knowledge of the Winter Olympic sport, and determination to ensure that Canada continues to produce top-level athletes.
Sam Edney: From Winter Olympic Medalist to High-Performance Director, Shaping the Future of Canadian Luge
Sam Edney’s journey from elite athlete to high-performance director has been both natural and expected. A decorated luger who earned a silver medal in the 2018 Winter Olympic as part of the Canadian men’s relay team, Edney has always been a passionate advocate for the development of Canadian athletes in the sport of Winter Olympic luge. His decision to retire from competitive luge in 2019 was a bittersweet one, but Edney’s transition into the role of HPD for Winter Olympic Luge Canada seemed almost like a continuation of his commitment to the sport.
As the first Canadian man to win a World Cup gold medal, Edney brings a wealth of experience, insight, and expertise to his new role. He knows the pressures that athletes face and understands the technical and mental demands of sliding sports. His focus as HPD is on ensuring that Canadian athletes have the best opportunities to train, compete, and ultimately excel at the Olympic level.
Sam Edney’s Leadership at Winter Olympic Luge Canada: Fostering Innovation and Mental Resilience
Edney’s approach to leading Winter Olympic Luge Canada is rooted in collaboration. He works closely with the athletes, coaches, and staff to ensure that all aspects of the program are aligned toward the goal of Olympic success. His leadership is not just about managing day-to-day operations, but about fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
Under Edney’s guidance, Winter Olympic Luge Canada has sought to adapt to the changing landscape of sliding sports, adjusting to the challenges posed by the closure of the Calgary track and ensuring that young athletes are given the resources they need to thrive. The development of new training techniques and the utilization of technology to track performance and measure improvements have been central to Edney’s strategy.
One of Edney’s key achievements as HPD has been improving the team’s focus on mental preparation and resilience. Luge, like all sliding sports, requires a high degree of precision, and Edney believes that mental toughness is just as important as physical strength. He has worked with sports psychologists and other experts to implement mental training programs that help athletes perform under pressure.
Jesse Lumsden’s Transition to Winter Olympic Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton: Revitalizing a National Sports Organization
Jesse Lumsden’s path to becoming HPD of Winter Olympic Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is a bit unconventional, given his background as a former CFL running back. However, his experience as an elite athlete, along with his years of competition in bobsleigh, made him a perfect candidate to take on this role. Lumsden competed in three Winter Olympic Games as a bobsledder, achieving numerous podium finishes in World Cup and world championship events. However, after his retirement, he spent several years working in the financial sector, gaining experience that would later prove invaluable in his leadership role.
In 2022, Lumsden return to the world of sliding sports when he was offer the position of HPD at Winter Olympic Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS). At that time, BCS was still dealing with the aftermath of internal upheaval following the 2022 Winter Olympic and the athlete-led ousting of the former president and CEO. Despite these challenges, Lumsden was confident that he could bring the leadership and business acumen he had gained in the corporate world to help revitalize the national organization.
Winter Olympic Leadership: Rebuilding Trust and Transforming Canadian Sliding Sports
When Lumsden first took the HPD role at BCS, one of his first steps was to rebuild the trust and morale of the athletes and coaching staff. After years of uncertainty and organizational turmoil, Lumsden knew that the key to success was creating a stable, positive environment where athletes felt supported and valued. His leadership has focused on improving the structure of the national team, ensuring that there is a clear path for athletes to follow in their pursuit of Winter Olympic success.
NSOs like Winter Olympic Luge Canada and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, they’re startups Lumsden said, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability in his approach. You have to think like a startup, operate like a startup, job stack, do more with less, especially in the current environment.
Lumsden’s experience in both the athletic and corporate worlds has made him uniquely suited to tackle the challenges facing BCS. His ability to lead in a time of crisis and bring fresh perspectives to the organization has already begun to make a positive impact on the program.
Winter Olympic Legacy: Edney and Lumsden’s Enduring Influence on Canada’s Sliding Sports
One of the defining aspects of Edney and Lumsden’s leadership is the close bond they share. Having competed together on Canada’s sliding teams, they have a deep mutual respect and understanding of each other’s strengths and challenges. Their friendship and collaboration, both on and off the ice, have played a critical role in their success as leaders.
When Lumsden was offer the role of HPD at BCS, the first person he called was Sam Edney. The two men had often leaned on each other for support during their athletic careers, and they continued that pattern as they took on their new roles. Their shared experiences as Olympic athletes and now as sports administrators have allowed them to communicate openly and support each other in ways that are essential for success in their roles.
The first person I called when BCS reached out to me about the role that I’m in now is Sam, Lumsden said. It’s been four months. I was squatting in the Winter Olympic luge offices for the first two months.
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