Luge Veteran’s Race in Sigulda

Sigulda (FIL/19. Mrz. 2024) For the first time, 16 senior luge athletes competed in the international "Veterans Luge Cup" in Sigulda (Latvia). An annual championship for "alumni" is planned. Luge coach Jan Eichhorn from the new "RennsteigHelden" luge club in Germany organized the training and competition for the Veterans.

"In Germany, we already have a race series for seniors with the BSD Cup. The idea of organizing a luge race with international participants came from a conversation with FIL Technical Director Andris Sics. I then spontaneously organized the first race in Sigulda in just two weeks. A big thank you goes to the BSD and the FIL for helping us with the financing," said organizer Jan Eichhorn. Together with Chris Rohmeiß (RennsteigHelden) and Steffen Wöller, he took over the organization of the first "Veterans Luge Cup" in Sigulda.

The winners of the first "Veterans Cup" were Sebastian Schulz and Susanne Meyer. The race started from the youth start in curve eight.

The amateur lugers want to compete internationally every year in the future. "Next year we already have some Olympic medal winners and former luge stars, such as Andris Sics from Latvia and Wilfried Huber from Italy, who want to compete. We are planning a race every year, perhaps with a title for veterans - European Champion or World Champion for Veterans," reports Eichhorn.

The plan is to organize the international race for the seniors on a different track every year. The age range of participants from the circle of former lugers for the luge training in Sigulda was between 20 and over 70 years. Both former athletes and newcomers took part.

Jan Eichhorn explains: "Maritta Hepper, for example, took up luge three years ago at the age of 63.  The oldest luger in our group taking part at the first Veterans Cup in Sigulda was Claus Ehrlich. He was born in 1955 - 69 years old. He started artificial track luge in 1966 at the Fortschritt Lichtenstein luge club in Saxony”. Ehrlich finished eighth out of twelve men in his first race in Sigulda on March 14, 2024.

Claus Ehrlich is delighted: "I'm a speed freak and I really enjoyed the luge in Sigulda. I really hope to come back to Latvia to luge again. I've never been a professional luger myself, but I still luge today and would still like to do it when I'm over 70. That would be my big goal!"

Photos: FIL / Mareks Galinovskis