Russia's Roman Repilov celebrates his win in the men's singles event at the FIL World Cup in Whistler ©FIL

Russia's Roman Repilov and Tatyana Ivanova won their respective men's and women's singles events, as action began today at the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup in Whistler, Canada.

Repilov, the 2017 world silver medallist, clocked a time of 1 min 39.713sec at the Whistler Sliding Centre, beating reigning world champion Felix Loch of Germany by 0.147 seconds.

"Now I only need to win in Calgary and I will have won a World Cup on all North American tracks," Repilov said.

"My performances weren't always very stable, but they have got better. 

"I am now sliding much more consistently.

"And a huge thank you to the track workers - that was the best ice of the season so far."

A second-place finish for Loch, who has won six World Championship singles gold medals to match Italy's Armin Zöggeler, secured him his first podium finish of the winter.

Third place went to Italy's Dominik Fischnaller, who was 0.171 seconds behind.

Germany's Johannes Ludwig, who held the lead after the first run, dropped back to fourth place in the second round.

Austria's Jonas Müller finished 10th in his first race on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic track and dropped to second in the overall standings behind Repilov, who leads the way with 345 points. 

Müller has 306 points and is followed by Fischnaller with 265.

Russia's Tatyana Ivanova tasted victory in the women's singles event ©Getty Images
Russia's Tatyana Ivanova tasted victory in the women's singles event ©Getty Images

In the women's event, three-time European champion Tatyana Ivanova celebrated the 12th FIL World Cup victory of her career.

The 28-year-old registered a total time of 1:17.378 to finish 0.191 seconds ahead of runner-up Anna Berreiter of Germany.

"I lost a lot of points last time out in Lake Placid," Ivanova said, in reference to her eighth-place finish in the regular event and fifth-place finish in the sprint.

"It’'s my bogey track. 

"I wanted to redeem myself here in Whistler. 

"I was aiming to be as fast on my second run as on the first - and I did it."

Berreiter, the European junior champion in team relay, claimed her maiden podium finish on only her fourth FIL World Cup start. 

Her previous best result was seventh at the season opener in Innsbruck last month.

The final podium position today went to Russia's ViKtoriia Demchenko, 0.221 seconds back.

Germany's Julia Taubitz took fourth place to retain her lead in the overall standings. 

Last season's FIL World Cup runner-up has 330 points, with Ivanova second on 297 and the United States' Summer Britcher, who finished last of the 28 competitors today, third on 243.