FIL Press Conference: 2009/2010 Aqotec World Cup on natural track

This year’s season opener press conference of the Luge World Cup on natural track was held 250 meters above Innsbruck in the tower of the Bergisel ski-jump. The President of the International Luge Federation (FIL) Josef Fendt and Vice-President Alfred Jud presented the venues of the 2009/2010 Aqotec World Cup on natural track and the expectations and objectives for the upcoming season. The press conference was also attended by Austria’s athletes Gerald (second placer in the Overall World Cup 2007/08) and Thomas (2009 runner-up World Champion) Kammerlander, Germany’s popular athlete Michaela Maurer, doubles athlete Björn Kierspel and Italy’s Anton Blasbichler (two-time World Champion) and Patrick Pigneter (multiple Overall World Cup winner).

The natural track luge World Cup has a new title this year as the main sponsor PEWO is now called Aqotec: „We have been supporting natural track luge for several years now. It is an exciting sport, which fits our company. The new name will be more suited for the international marketplace. The quality will stay the same”, explained Christian Holzinger, CEO of Aqotec. Next to Aqotec, the companies Trenker and Zauner will be the other main sponsors of the natural track luge World Cup series. FIL President Josef Fendt said: „It is great to have such strong and longtime partners, who support natural track luge again this year!”

The President also reported on the negotiations with the Olympic Committee: “Unfortunately, natural track luge has not been included in the program of the Youth Olympic Winter Games. We will continue with our efforts to promote natural track luge”, Fendt emphasized.

From December 15 to 20, 2009, the season will kick-off where it concluded last season: in Novouralsk, 70 kilometers north of Ekatarinenburg (RUS), where Melanie Batkowski (AUT) won her first World Cup last year.

From January 8 to 10, 2010, Umhausen (Tyrol, Austria) will be the next World Cup venue with the season’s only night race. It will also be the dress rehearsal for the 2011 World Championships. Further World Cup events will be held in Latsch (ITA) from January 22 to 24, 2010, and in Latzfons (ITA) from February 5 to 7, 2010. The Aqotec World Cup finale will be staged in Germany’s Olympic city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Further highlights of the season are the 23rd European Championships in St. Sebastian (AUT) from January 15 to 17, 2010 and the FIL Junior World Championships in Deutschnofen (ITA) from January 29 to 31, 2010.