Innsbruck-Igls (pps) Competing in the first event of the new luge season Tatjana Huefer picks up where she left off last winter: The Olympic and three-time World champion won the season opener of the 2011-2012 Viessmann Luge World Cup series on the Olympic track in Innsbruck-Igls. Celebrating her now 29th individual World Cup victory with a winning margin of 0.201 seconds, the 28-year-old German luger defeated team-mate Anke Wischnewski to second place. Canada’s Alex Gough, being 0.275 seconds behind Huefner, finished in third position.

Behind three-time World runner-up Natalie Geisenberger and 2010 European silver medallist Corinna Martini (both of Germany), Russia’s Tatjana Ivanova took sixth place. Former World champion Erin Hamlin (USA) finished in seventh position. Taking eighth place, Arianne Jones of Canada celebrated her career-best World Cup result.

Quotes

Tatjana Huefner

(GER / 2010 Olympic and three-time World champion)

“I guess there weren’t that many mistakes in my preparation for the new season. But I botched the first run and that was annoying. Actually, I’m lucky I stayed on the luge at all. But in the second run I’ve been able to show that I can well luge straight ahead.”

Anke Wischnewski

(GER / 2007 World bronze medallist)

“This was a good start into the season, and the material works out just fine. But I’ve still a deficit as far as my start is concerned.”

Alex Gough

(CAN / 2011 World bronze medallist)

“I can be quite pleased with the first event of the luge season. However, I’m not sure if I’ve improved my start compared to the international top lugers. I’ll be able to judge that on a track with a flat start. Here in Igls it’s always a bit tight.”