Sliders Sam Edney, Alex Gough fully invested in Canadian luge team

It's hard to slide fast when you're distracted by the future.

Sam Edney and Alex Gough have returned to Canada's luge team to race full time after school took them away from the track last season.

Gough, the most decorated luger in Canadian history, skipped the final three World Cup races to dive into civil engineering classes at the University of Calgary.

Edney, the first Canadian man to win a World Cup luge gold, took the entire season off to finish a commerce degree at Victoria's Royal Roads University.

The Calgarians feel they can now concentrate on sliding and the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, unfettered by worries about life after sport.

'As great as this life is, it doesn't have a pension plan'

"As great as this life is, it doesn't have a pension plan," the 32-year-old Edney told The Canadian Press from Winterberg, Germany. "It does feel like there's a burden lifted off of me."

Ramping up studies required Gough to dial back racing in 2015-16.

The 29-year-old, who finished fourth in women's singles in the 2014 Winter Games, says she's halfway to her degree. She also got married in October to Scott Sissons.

"After the Sochi Games, I needed to make some strides on what comes next," Gough said. "Knowing that I have a plan and two years left of my degree to complete, I'm on track.

"My life outside of luge is all in a really great place."

The competition didn't wait for them, however. Edney and Gough have ground to regain.

Their rankings have dropped. Both must race in Friday qualifying to get into the season-opening World Cup races on the weekend in Winterberg.

"The last time I raced I was fifth overall in the world," Edney said. "That's what my bib had on it, the number five. This year I'm starting with a bib that's 68 or something. I'm down in the ranks now. It's a bit of an uphill battle."

Edney won World Cup gold on his home track in Calgary in 2014.

"I still have the drive and the passion to be on the sled," Edney said. "Everything I do each day is with the sole focus of being in Pyeongchang and competing amongst the best in the world."

Edney, Gough, Calgary's Mitch Malyk, Reid Watts of Whistler, B.C., Victoria's Kimberley McRae and the doubles team of Justin Snith and Tristan Walker of Calgary are racing for Canada in Winterberg.

Saskatoon's Rachel Klassen withdrew because of an ankle injury.

Gough ready to contend for medals again

Gough (pronounced Goff) isn't as race rusty as Edney, but wants to re-establish herself as a podium contender.

Winner of over 20 World Cup medals and a pair of world championship medals in women's singles, Gough made the podium once last season with a bronze.

"I didn't lose anything. I just didn't keep up with the gains my competitors were making, so it was a little bit tough on that end," she explained.

"That was to be expected because I was splitting my attention and energies between two things.

"It's a matter of getting back comfortable on the track and racing to my potential because it's still there."

Snith, Walker, Edney and Gough made Canada a medal threat in the team relay that made its Olympic debut in 2014. The foursome was fourth in Sochi.

Snith and Walker finished fourth in men's doubles. Along with Gough's fourth, it was a trio of agonizing near-misses on an Olympic medal for Canada.

Malyk and McRae helped Canada win relay medals last season in the absence of Edney and Gough, which bodes well for team depth. Snith underwent surgery in March on an ankle that hampered training last season.

So while Canada's luge team is back to full strength, coach Walter Staudinger is taking a wait-and-see approach.

"This is going to be a very interesting season," Staudinger said. "We really have to wait for the weekend to see where we stand. I know having Sam back and Alex back this increases our chances to be hopefully even better.

"Coming back into the system in a permanent full way after a long break, I think there's some uncertainty and insecurity for [them]. They're not 100 per cent sure where they're really at."

CBC will be streaming the luge World Cup event from Germany on Saturday starting at 4 a.m. ET on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app.