32nd Gitschberg Start Cup 2025 – International top performances at the traditional start competition in Meransen

Meransen (FIL/01 Sep 2025) Under the motto “Ready, Set, SLEDGE!”, Meransen became the meeting place for the international luge elite over the weekend. The 32nd Gitschberg Start Cup attracted young, junior, and senior athletes from numerous nations to South Tyrol. On the artificially iced start track of the Gitschberg Sports Club, the focus was on speed, technique, and responsiveness.

On Friday, August 29, the teams took advantage of the optimal conditions for all-day group training, before the start competitions in the various age and discipline classes were held on Saturday, August 30, starting at 8:00 a.m.

Youth A male: Poland's Cyprian Dybalski won in 9.354 seconds after two combined start times, ahead of Oliver Korbela (SVK, +0.112) and Andreas Mair (AUT, +0.150). There were 15 young athletes at the start.

Youth A female: Leana Meier (GER) won in 9.822 seconds, just ahead of Klaudia Watkowska (POL, +0.068) and Nina Grumser (AUT, +0.094) among fourteen young women.

There was an Austrian double victory in the male juniors. Paul Socher (AUT) dominated with 9.127 seconds. Johannes Scharnagl (AUT, +0.135) came second ahead of Philipp Brunner (ITA, +0.177).

In the junior women's competition, the local hero was the fastest. Alexandra Oberstolz (ITA) won in 9.670 seconds, ahead of Viktoria Praxová (SVK, +0.124) and Katharina Sofie Kofler (ITA, +0.131).

In the men's singles, Ivan Nagler (ITA) won in 9.091 seconds, just ahead of Tomas Vaverčák (SVK, +0.025) and Anton Dukach (UKR, +0.031).

In the women's singles, Andrea Vötter (ITA) won a high-class duel in 9.509 seconds, just 0.020 seconds ahead of Emily Fischnaller (USA). Third place went to Yuliana Tunyska (UKR, +0.048).

In the men's doubles, the Italian duo Rieder/Kainzwalder won convincingly in 9.210 seconds ahead of Martynovskyi/Babura (UKR, +0.192).

There was also an Italian victory in the women's doubles: Vötter/Oberhofer prevailed in 9.676 seconds ahead of their compatriots Falkensteiner/Huber (+0.139).

The South Tyrolean youngsters also performed strongly in the children's classes: Benjamin Oberhuber (ITA) and Thresia Maria Seehauser (ITA) won their age categories.

The Gitschberg Start Cup has been an integral part of the season preparation for decades and offers ideal opportunities for international athletes to compare their skills. The Italian national team in particular traditionally uses the competition week for intensive preparation in South Tyrol.

https://www.fil-luge.org/contrance/cdn/uploads/results-gitschberg-start-cup-2025.pdf