Farquharson steps it up as Arndt steps aside in Lake Placid Luge

Ashley Farquharson starting her luge competitive season at the top of the podium. Photo: Michele Roepke //TownLift

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — For the first time since 2019, Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid saw world-class luge racing on Thursday during the Nation’s Cup qualifying races to set the stage for the Eberspächer Luge World Cup this weekend.  

The Nation’s Cup is a single run race to qualify athletes for the World Cup. Based on Thursday’s results, all U.S. National Team athletes will be moving onto this weekend’s events.  

2018 Olympic silver medalist Chris Mazdzer (Salt Lake City, Utah) just missed the podium, placing fourth in 51.595. Mazdzer is competing in the final race of his storied career this weekend.

2022 Olympian and the reigning Norton National Champion Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah) topped the women’s singles competition, winning gold with a time of 44.242. Canada’s Trinity Ellis took silver in 44.336, and three-time Olympian Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa.) placed third in 44.477.   

Britteny Arndt, who announced she was retiring from the sport earlier in the year, took her farewell run during the Nation’s Cup. The 2023 World Cup Sprint bronze medalist crossed the finish line in seventh place in 44.763. Arndt (Park City, Utah) was met with cheers from teammates and luge fans.  

“I got to end my career after a really great season last year and I’m happy to be able to be here in Lake Placid to take my last run with my friends, my family and the team here by my side,” said Arndt to USA Luge. “We are a big family and I’m really thankful for everyone on the team, my coaches and everyone who helped me get to where I got.”