Canada's Amy Gough captured silver at the World Cup skeleton event in Park City, Utah, on Thursday. (Mike Groll/Associated Press)

A barrage of snow worked in Canada's favour at the season-opening World Cup skeleton race Thursday in Park City, Utah.

Amy Gough of Abbotsford, B.C., captured her first-ever World Cup podium finish after posting the second-fastest time while Olympic bronze medallist Mellisa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta., placed third. The second run was cancelled due to heavy snow.

Gough crossed the line in 51.36 seconds, just ahead of Hollingsworth in 51.37. Germany's Anja Huber captured gold in 51.22 on the same track used in the 2002 Olympics.

Gough was making her first full season start on the World Cup. Her previous best finish was a fourth-place result in Winterberg, Germany, in 2007.

"I'm pretty shocked. This is just crazy," Gough said. "My goal was to finish top-eight today to get an Olympic qualifier, but to get second and finish as top Canadian definitely is beyond my expectations."

Hollingsworth, who overcame a shaky start, was satisfied with third place.

"I am very happy with getting onto the podium, and extremely proud of Amy's performance today," said Hollingsworth, who earned her 17th career World Cup medal.

"I think it is really important to get off to a strong start to the season and get on the podium. We'll be able to carry this energy with us to the next race and that will help us."

In men's action, Calgary's Jeff Pain finished tied for sixth, nearly a full second behind winner Martins Dukurs of Latvia.

Pain posted a combined two-run time of one minute 40.63 seconds. Dukurs won in 1:39.75, about a half-second better than Germany's Sandro Stielicke. Great Britain's Kristan Bromley was third.

Pain tied with American Eric Bernotas. Jon Montgomery of Russell, Man., was ninth in 1:40.71 while Michael Douglas of Toronto was 15th in 1:41.30.