Inspired by 2010 Olympics, Canada's Susko set for home debut at luge World Cup in Whistler

Embyr-Lee Susko describes taking part in the upcoming second leg of the 2023 Luge World Cup in Whistler, B.C., as a "full circle moment."

Susko, 18, grew up in Whistler and got into the sport after attending a Boy Scout camp held at the mountain resort's sliding centre with her brothers.

"It's a full circle moment. In the 2010 Olympics I remember watching the women's luge and now I'm here," she said. "It means a lot to race at home."

Her two brothers also got in to the sport but eventually dropped out, but Susko has persevered.

"I fell in love with the adrenalin rush," she said. "My coaches described it as a frozen waterslide and I still look at it like that."

Susko's parents never tried luge themselves, having grown up in Ontario and Nova Scotia, but the teen says they have encouraged and supported her.

"With the 2010 Games being in Whistler, they kind if just wanted to keep the legacy going and were excited to keep the legacy going," Susko said about her parents' support. "We all skied and we grew up playing every sport we could in Whistler, so it was just another sport to add to the list."

WATCH | Looking ahead to the Whistler World Cup:

The World Cup will be Susko's second-ever senior competition, but she has competed in two junior World Cup events this season. Live coverage from Whistler begins Friday at 4 p.m. ET on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

She placed 17th in the Altenberg Jr. World Cup and 22nd in the Winterberg World Cup. Susko finished 17th in the senior version of the Altenberg event.

Susko will be joined by Kailey Allan, Theo Downy, Devin Wardrope, Carolyn Maxwell, Cole Zajanski, Dylan Morse and Beattie Podulsky, all from Calgary, as well as fellow Whistler resident Midori Holland and