Leuders shaken by luger's death By ROB LONGLEY, QMI Agency

WHISTLER, B.C — He pilots a much bigger, better protected sled, but Canadian bobsled veteran Pierre Leuders admits he was shaken by the crash that killed Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili a week ago.

“If someone says it didn’t affect them, well, it sure did me,” said Leuders, who begins competition in the two-man bob this weekend with partner and Edmonton Eskimos running back Jesse Lumsden. “Something like that is tragic.”

The outspoken Leuders believes it is incumbent on officials to ensure athletes are capable before allowing them to slide on difficult courses like the one at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

“I think there’s a responsibility for the international federations that their athletes are qualified enough to slide on these tracks,” Leuders said following a training session.

“It’s a tough sport.”