2022 Olympian, Park City's Ashley Farquharson, smiling about luging onto her first individual podium at the World Cup in the Utah Olympic Park, a 2026 Olympic qualifying event. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Three-time American Olympian Summer Britcher won first place in the Utah Olympic Park’s Luge World Cup held on Friday and Saturday. Part of a series of 2026 Italian Olympic qualifying competitions, Park City’s, Wasatch Luge Club’s, and Youth Sports Alliance’s Olympian Ashley Farquharson slid onto her first single’s podium in third place.

America’s two-time Olympian Emily Fischnaller got a top-15 while Parkite Matt Greiner also finished with an impressive top-20 in the men’s race for the young slider. Before the main event, a Nations Cup was held wherein Park City’s Emma Erickson slid smoothly, placing in the top-20.

Below is Farquharson’s post race interview with TownLift.

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Utah 2002/2034 Committee Leader Fraser Bullock (left) with Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation President and head of Utah 2034 Sport Venue Committee Colin Hilton at the World Cup. Not pictured but also present was former Utah Government Leader and fellow 2034 Olympic Committee Leader Brad Wilson. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

Below, watch the Italian team sing along to their national anthem on the podium as the winners of the Team Relay event. Seen in the crowd are Mark Grimmette and Gordy Sheer, USA’s retired silver medal winning luge doubles Olympians who now work for USA Luge. Also on site was German Legendary Luger, multi-time Olympic Champion George Hackl.

Park City’s Kris Severson started his company K2 Creative Productions after he was the venue producer at the UOP for the 2002 Olympics. Since then he’s worked at six additional Olympics, multiple Red Bull races, several Sundance Film Festivals, and one FIFA World Cup with plans to repeat at next summer’s in North America. Severson and his son Zane were back at the track this weekend working seamlessly behind the scenes. Kris told TownLift, “It’s great to see the continued usage of our sports facilities in Utah at the highest levels of performance on a global stage.”

Utahn, Chris Mazdzer, was at the Luge World Cup in Park City seen here in the blue jacket alongside one of the many media professionals creating content summarizing his silver medal Olympic Luge career. A book is in the works too. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

One of Greiner’s home-track runs can be viewed below.

Highly-ranked International Luge Official Zianabeth Owen and her husband, Jon, the Western Regional Coach, sled maker and Olympian, both Parkites, can be seen in the photo below supervising the installation of the Relay Touchpad at the Track-Over-Track portion of the venue.

Owens. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

The photo below captures the thrilling moment when retired Park City luger Brittney Arndt was one of the first friends to hug her former teammate Farquharson at the medals ceremony.

Second place for the women’s singles went to Verona Hofer of Italy. First, second, and third for men’s singles went to Austria, Germany, and Italy, respectively. Men’s doubles results were first, second, and third place to Germany, United States, and Italy, respectively. Women’s doubles were Germany, Austria, and Germany, respectively.

The dedicated people who work maintain the ice along the track put in three, 16-hour days ensuring the high-quality sliding surface for the athletes.

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All photos: TownLift // Michele Roepke