Newton's - Mahdzan Wins In Classic Luge, Erban and Daddow Eliminated Early

Abdil "Furlong" Mahdzan crosses the finish line to win Newton's Playground in Australia
Photo: Marcus Rietema

Bathurst, Australia- Abdil “Furlong” Mahdzan made history on Saturday when he became the first racer from Asia to win an IGSA World Cup race. The 25 year old from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia scored a big win in the Classic Luge final at Newton’s Playground in Bathurst, Australia.

He streaked to victory as his three rivals crashed in “Forest’s Elbow” behind him. Cameron Scott of Australia extracted himself from the carnage to finish second and Will Stephenson of Great Britain was third.

Scott "Scoot" Smith (CAN) crossing the finish line in an early heat at Bathurst
Photo- Marcus Rietema

The first two rounds of eliminations for both Downhill skateboarding and Street Luge were held on Saturday. Top qualifiers including Scott “Scoot” Smith (CAN), Ethan Lau (USA), Corey Leeson (AUS), Pete Connolly (GBR) and Rylan “Raggie” English advanced easily to today’s semi-final rounds. Current IGSA World Cup Champion Erik Lundberg (SWE) also advanced easily rebounding from his poor qualifying performance on Friday. The big news was the elimination of IGSA number two world ranked Mischo Erban (CAN)and the veteran Steve Daddow (AUS)who had qualified fourth.

Daddow had scored a hard fought, photo finish victory in the first round over Olivier Bareaud (FRA) and was looking really strong in the second round until being involved in a crash that took him out of the competition. Erban just never seemed to come to grips with the technical and fast Newton’s Playground course. After qualifying a disappointing seventh on Friday he had a solo crash in the second round that eliminated him.

In Street Luge number one qualifier Nick Duffield (AUS) continued his dominance scoring easy victories in both of his first round heats. Top qualifiers David Kelly (AUS), Cameron Scott (AUS), Bill Smrtic (USA), and Classic Luge winner Abdil “Furlong” Mahdzan also advanced. The only top five qualifier not to advance was Will Stephenson (GBR). The Semi-Final rounds of Downhill Skateboarding and Street Luge get underway today at 2:30 p.m.

Classic Luge Final Results