Canada's Susko earns bronze in America-Pacific luge championship, finishes 9th at World Cup

Canada's Embyr-Lee Susko grabbed bronze at the America-Pacific Championship at the Whistler Sliding Centre on Saturday, held in conjunction with the 2023 Eberspacher Luge World Cup circuit stop.

Susko of Whistler, B.C., took home the medal with a time of one minute 18.404 seconds in the women's singles luge event. Her time was good for ninth place among all World Cup competitors.

"I'm just so stoked, that was two clean runs," the 18-year-old said. "Not my best start to the second run but I'm so happy with what I was able to put down today."

"I've been on this track 12 seasons now so you can definitely find some speed where other nations might not be able to."

Emily Sweeney of the U.S. took the championship gold with a time of 1:18.221, while fellow American Ashley Farquharson earned silver in 1:18.238.

The Canadian luging community has been incredibly welcoming, Susko said, with teammate Caitlin Nash acting as another coach.

"They're constantly helping me out, with doubles and singles, it's just such a supportive team and an amazing environment to be around," Susko said.

Robert Fegg, the head coach of the Canadian luge program, said he was pleased overall with how the national team performed in the competition, and particularly happy with Susko's growth and results.

"After the first run it looked not as good as it was," Fegg said.

"Embyr is young. She just needs to build on what she did today ... now it's about developing the athletic side a little bit more, maturing the body into an athletic body. She's so young. And getting the experience on other tracks as well."

Julia Taubitz led a German podium sweep among World Cup competitors. She grabbed gold with a time of 1:18.066 seconds.

Anna Berreiter (1:18.177) and Merle