The multiple crashes littering the bobsled run here don't affect just those who whistle down the course with their heads slamming into the ice.

The two sleds after a wreck are also compromised, because of snow buildup and it disrupts the essential emotional momentum of the sport.

Canadian driving legend Pierre Lueders, with crewman Jesse Lumsden riding in the three-hole, encountered that situation not just once but twice in yesterday's opening two heats of the four-man championship.

Lueders, with Justin Kripps, Lumsden and brakeman Neville Wright on board, sits sixth, with the final two runs today. Their start was delayed between seven and 10 minutes in each run, after a Russian sled in the opener and a USA sled in the nightcap, both flipped.

Lueders, in Canada 2, totalled 1:42.56, .37 of a second removed from third place, occupied by German legend Andre Lange who himself nearly capsized.

Canada 1, piloted by Lyndon Rush is in strong medal contention in second place at 1:42:15, four-tenths of a second behind leader Steven Holcomb of the U.S.

Lumsden, the Edmonton Eskimo, compares a bob sled start to the opening kickoff when he was playing special teams for the Ticats.

"It's the start of everything. And then you have to go sit down for 10 minutes."

"When your job is to push a sled for four seconds you build up your maximum adrenalin and it's hard to shut that down and then have to be able to refocus it. We did a good job at that, we're not thinking about the crash when we go there, but that's some crappy, crappy luck right there.

"We have to keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't happen again, we get some nice clean ice and Pierre can do what he does.

"And we have to get some much better starts from the crew and brakeman."

Canada 2 started at 4.79 and 4.78 seconds when 4.72 or lower is what Lumsden's aiming for.

Mike Botterill and Mike Zaremba were in Whistler to support their old Mac teammate and during last week's two-man heats, ex-Cat Adriano Belli made his presence known, as only he can do.

"I don't know how he did this," Lumsden laughed. "First he gets in the mixed (media) zone and then he got right up onto the stage, when we were in the winners' circle."

The Burlington resident says he's loves the sense of teamwork in sledding, especially the four-man, and is not averse to moving up a couple of seats some day.

"I'm not going to stop playing football to take up driving or anything like that. I love pushing but I think it would be a lot of fun to go to a driving school because I've always liked being part of the action.

"I feel like I've really embraced the culture of bobsled. This isn't something where any athlete's in it to make money, they're doing it for national pride. And that's something that I really, really love about it. It's a great world to be in.

"Like I've said before, to be able to represent your country is the most amazing feeling in the world.

"You have all the nations' flags waving and, unlike football, they're all cheering for you even though you're not from their country. It's very much about embracing the Games. I'm really enjoying this aspect of the sport: I'm doing it for the right reason.

"Pride."

Lueders angrily blew by the media and, Lumsden laughed, "I'm just as pissed off as he is, but I'm willing to talk to you guys about it."

smilton@thespec.com