Park City (RWH)  The US women’s lugers just can’t stop winning. One week after their historic triple victory at Lake Placid, they have now managed a double victory at the Viessmann World Cup in Park City.

Summer Britcher celebrated her first World Cup success ahead of teammate Erin Hamlin on the track used for the 2002 Olympics. Hamlin, who took bronze at the 2014 Olympics and was World Champion in 2009, won last week’s event in Lake Placid. Third place went to European Champion Dajana Eitberger (GER), who headed the field at the season opener in Innsbruck.

Summer Britcher, who finished 15th at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, was part of the victorious US relay team at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2012. In 2015, the 21-year-old won the silver medal at the U23 World Championships in Sigulda. Her best result in the Viessmann World Cup to date was third in Lake Placid last week.

Erin Hamlin retained her lead in the overall standings in the Viessmann World Cup on 231 points. Summer Britcher (225) has now moved up to second place ahead of Germans Dajana Eitberger (209) and Natalie Geisenberger (205). Geisenberger, the Olympic gold medallist and reigning World Champion, finished fourth in Park City. 

Quotes

Summer Britcher (USA / YOG gold 2012 with the US relay team, silver in 2015 at the U23 World Championships)

“I would have never expected that. It’s unreal. My hard work in training has paid off. I am more experienced now too. And of course it’s good to have two races in a row on our home tracks. I’m not setting myself any targets for the season, I’m just taking things one race at a time, one track at a time.”

Erin Hamlin (USA / 2014 Olympic bronze medallist and World Champion in 2009)

“I’d never had a really good race here in Park City, so I finally put that right. We’re pushing each other hard in the US team, even in training, and we’re motivating each other. That’s one of the reasons. Our experience comes into it as well, as does having two races in a row on our home tracks.”

Dajana Eitberger (GER / European Champion 2015, winner of the season opener in Innsbruck)

“This was really a blessing in disguise. After the race, our coach told me I wouldn’t have deserved any higher than third. My runs weren’t really very good. I need to rediscover the form I showed at the season opener in Innsbruck.”