Canada's Sam Edney caps World Cup luge career with bronze Crystal Globe in team relay
33-year-old leaves circuit as only Canadian male with 3 podium finishes
Sam Edney led Canada's luge relay team to a sixth-place finish on Sunday in Sigulda, Latvia, in the final World Cup race of his career.
The 33-year-old Edney, who is the only Canadian man with three World Cup medals, had a solid run on the tricky 1,260-metre Latvian track to help the Canadians finish in two minutes 14.414 seconds.
Despite the sixth-place result, Canada was able to finish third in the overall standings to come away with the bronze Crystal Globe.
The Russian team finished first with a time of 2:13.428. Germany was second at 2:13.579, while Latvia thrilled the hometown crowd with the bronze medal at 2:13.607.
"This is a very active track that demands a lot," Edney said. "You have to be in the right place at the right time and even being millimetres off can cost you. The moment it falls apart it snowballs all the way down until it finally eats you and you crash."
'Team was not pleased' with 6th place
Edney was joined by Alex Gough, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith in the relay, a one-run race for each of the three sleds. Athletes hit a paddle that hangs over the finish line to open the gate for the next sled to go.
"Our team was not pleased because there were small things in each run that we wanted back," said Edney. "We met as a group and we do have some positives. I had a good reaction time, and we were able to finish third in the overall team relay this year.
"Things may not look so good on the results today, but there were some real highs on the season and we know what we need to do heading to the big show."
All four sliders are part of the Canadian team heading to the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Edney was hoping for more in singles race
Earlier in the day, Edney finished a disappointing 31st in the men's singles race.
"It was a tough day. I was happy with the first run and I really wanted to end my World Cup career with a top-15 finish in one of these last three races," Edney said. "I knew it was possible today, but I think I got a bit too eager on that second run, had a lapse, which you can't do here in Sigulda and I paid for it.
"It's not the end to my World Cup career that I was looking for, but it does show it is there, and I can carry myself into the Games knowing I have a couple of things to work on. Consistency is usually the best part of my sliding. If I can take anything from the last 17 years, it is that, heading into the Olympics."
Canadian teenager Reid Watts of Whistler, B.C., placed 30th at 1:38.195.
Russia's Semen Pavlichenko won the men's race with a time of 1:36.758.
With files from CBC Sports