National Skeleton Program Charges Headfirst into Olympic Season

Newly named national team athletes driven to achieve performance goals in supportive culture at all levels

CALGARY—Two-time Olympian, Jane Channell, along with former World Champion, Hallie Clarke, will lead Canada’s skeleton athletes into the highly-anticipated Olympic season with a team-focused approach to winning well.

Just two days prior to the season-opening races, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton named the veteran athletes to its Senior Skeleton Team. Both will begin the trail to the 2026 Games at the World Cup opener on the Olympic Track, November 21.

Channell (North Vancouver) and Clarke (Brighton, Ont.) will carry the torch for the Canucks on the elite international stage. The 37-year-old Channell, who remains one of the fastest starters on the planet and a multiple World Cup medallist, is driven to play a leadership role for the national program while chasing her goal of representing Canada at her third Olympic Games. A winner of two World Cup silver medals, the 21-year-old Clarke, who last year became the first athlete in skeleton history to hold both the Senior and Junior World Championship crowns at the same time, is also determined to realize her Olympic dream this winter while chasing the international podium.

With a continued focus on rebuilding the National Skeleton Team into a world-leading program, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton also named one athlete to its Development Skeleton Team. Josip Brusic (Okotoks, Alta.), will continue his progression while splitting time on the North American Cup and World Cup circuits.

“We have worked hard to strengthen our team dynamics and build a shared vision of what it means to be part of the National Skeleton Program. This season will continue to challenge us, unite us, and push the standard of Canada’s skeleton program forward,” said Joe Cecchini, head coach and technical lead, National Skeleton Program. “With these three individuals leading the way, along with every athlete who took part in the selection process, we’ve created a strong and competitive environment that reflects the best of our sport.

“Our goal is to achieve our performance objectives as a supportive team, knowing that success at every level sets the benchmark for what the Canadian Skeleton Team represents. Every athlete in our system plays a vital role in shaping our success, and we are proud of each member of the National Team and our extended athlete group as they continue to chase their performance goals.”

Cecchini’s coaching staff includes Kevin Boyer, who represented Canada at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and was a member of the National Skeleton Program for 10 years, along with former national team athlete, Micaela Widmer, who is the National Skeleton Program Development Lead.

All three continue to focus on rebuilding the national program with an aggressive national recruitment drive and development program fueling its growth.

Working in partnership with RBC Training Ground, Boyer’s leadership with the recruitment program has resulted in the largest number of athletes in the organization’s history attending camps and introductory driving schools.

That development pathway this year will consist of 10 men and six women who will compete on the North American Cup throughout the 2025-26 campaign. The men’s athletes include: Massimo Ardizzoni (Vancouver); Malik Carasco (Mississauga, Ont.); Linus Cornelius (Calgary); Dion Charles (Guelph, Ont.); Zander Greco (St. Albert, Alta.); Ryan Kuehn (Calgary); Ethan Phillips (Windsor, Ont.); Andrew Piderbeisky (Calgary); Sebastien Regnier (Winnipeg, Man.); and Adam Scott (Victoria).

The six women include: Emily Bateman (Desbarats, Ont.); Payton Byrne (Halifax, N.S.); Indy Dorscheid (Grand Prairie, Alta.); Brielle Durham (Ottawa); Julia Hamilton (Barrie, Ont.); and Madeline Parra (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.).

Additionally, three more athletes will form the National Athlete Pool – a group of athletes who will continue working towards hitting performance thresholds. These athletes will be given opportunities to race internationally when spots are available to fill vacant Canadian IBSF quota spots, but are not considered part of the National Team. 

National Athlete Pool:
Grace Dafoe (Calgary, Alta.)
Kyle Donsberger (Regina, Sask.)
Brayden Posyluzny (Lethbridge, Alta.)

“This is an exciting time in our program’s history with a strong and growing junior movement. We are committed to supporting the development of all athletes in our pathway,” added Cecchini. “This collective group of athletes have created a supportive high-performance daily training and competitive environment that is committed to working hard and being competitive internationally. We look forward to continuing to watch their development and to celebrating their progress throughout this important season.”

Canada’s skeleton athletes will be on starting blocks around the world this week. Jane Channell and Hallie Clarke will launch into the World Cup season, November 21, in Cortina, Italy. Team Canada will send one dozen athletes to the starting line for the opening North American Cup race on home ice at the Whistler Sliding Centre, November 20-21.

Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Karbon, Athabasca Oil Corporation in collaboration with Canada Action’s I Love Canadian Energy campaign, Leeswood Construction, Bomber LD, PX3, Kuritec, Vessi – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops champions in the community, on and off the track, who have a passion for bobsleigh and skeleton. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.