Alex Gough, Canadian luger, opens World Cup season with bronze

Canadian luger Alex Gough opened the season with a podium finish at a World Cup event in Austria on Saturday.

With a time of 1 minute, 20.017 seconds, the 28-year-old Calgary native claimed bronze behind two German lugers.

"It was a good start to the year. I wanted better starts. I felt I was a little stronger than what I showed but I am sliding really well and it felt good," Gough said.

"Getting off to a strong start to the season is a good confidence booster for the rest of the season."

Dajana Eitberger earned her first World Cup victory, leading Natalie Geisenberger for a German 1-2 finish at the luge season-opener on the 1976 Olympic track.

In difficult conditions due to snowfall, Eitberger posted the fastest time in both runs to finish in 1:19.795 and beat Olympic and world champion Geisenberger by 0.214.

Geisenberger, who is the three-time defending overall champion, improved from fourth place after a disappointing opening run.

Another German, Tatjana Huefner came in fourth.

Americans Summer Britcher, Emily Sweeney and Erin Hamlin came 5-6-7 after Hamlin and Sweeney finished the opening run in second and third, respectively.

The men's doubles race belonged to Germany's Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken who took the gold. Penz and Fischler of Austria were second, followed by Wendl and Arlt of Germany. Canada's Tristan Walker and Justin Snith were sixth.