Latsch (ck) - Every two years the athletes aged under 20 are competing for medals in the World junior Championships. This year’s event, the eighth edition so far, will be held in Latsch/Laces (ITA) where world cups and world championships have been held in the past already.

None of the last edition’s title winners will be there to defend their title, as only who was born in 1992 or later will be allowed to compete. Silver medallist from 2010, Alex Gruber (ITA) is still young enough and definitely one of the title contenders, considering that he has won a world cup race already. In the women’s event the door is wide open for the strong Italian team. Alexandra Obrist, runner up two years ago, will still meet the junior requirements for Latsch. Also in the doubles’ event only the silver medallists of 2010, Dominik and Dieter Apolloner (AUT), have a chance to win another medal. The twins from Styria could make themselves a birthday present: on Saturday, February 4th, the day of the doubles’ decision, they will turn 20.

A strong contribution can be expected from the Russian team. In the world cup they could achieve podium finishes in all three categories this winter already and for the junior championships a whole additional junior’s team has arrived. One week ago a team from Turkey arrived in Italy to compete in the junior championships, for the first time ever. A few weeks ago the small, of only two athletes consisting Canadian team arrived in South Tyrol. They were based in Olang for training, but moved to Latsch already, ready to compete. Overall a field of 12 nations will race for medals.

In World and European Championships the single’s events are always held in three runs, the doubles will have two runs.

The medallsits and top-6 results of the 2010 Junior World Championships in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA) were:

Junior Men:

1. Hannes CLARA (ITA)

2. Alex GRUBER (ITA)

3. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT)

4. Simon RUNGGER (ITA)

5. Simon KAINZWALDNER (ITA)

6. Patrick SALCHER (AUT)

Junior Women:

1. Evelin LANTHALER (ITA)

2. Alexandra OBRIST (ITA)

3. Andrea VÖTTER (ITA)

4, Nina BUCINEL (SLO)

5. Maria KAMAREVTSEVA (RUS)

6. Regina GILVANOVA (RUS)

Junior Doubles:

1. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT)

2. Dominik APOLLONER/Dieter APOLLONER (AUT)

3. Pavel SILIN/Ivan RODIN (RUS)

4. Rupert BRÜGGLER/Tobias ANGERER (AUT)

5. Stanislav KOVSHIK/Ilya TARASOV (RUS)

6. Maxim TSVETKOV/Denis MOISEEV (RUS)

Track Info „Gumpfrei“:

Start Elevation: 1330m

Finish Elevation: 1212m

Difference: 118m

Program:

Friday, 03.Feb 2012:

starting at 09.00am: 1st and 2nd Training Run Men and Women

1.00pm: 1st Training Run doubles

2.00pm: 2nd training run doubles

7.00pm: Opening Ceremony

Saturday, 04.Feb 2012:

09:30am: 1st competition run doubles

11:00am: 2nd competition run doubles

afterwards flower ceremony

01.00pm: 1st competition run women and men

Sunday, 05. Feb 2012:

09.30am: 2nd Competition Run Women and Men

11.30am: 3rd Competition Run Women and Men

afterwards Flower Ceremony

1.30pm: Medal Ceremonies