33rd FIL Summer Luge Cup in Ilmenau: Six Nations and Prominent Young Talents

Ilmenau, 13 June 2026 – The 33rd FIL Summer Luge Cup on the Wolfram Fiedler luge track in Ilmenau once again delivered what sets this event apart: a warm atmosphere, fair competition and organisation that simply works.

With athletes from Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia and Bulgaria, the international turnout was the strongest since the Covid-related interruption of 2020 – six nations, 71 competitors, not a single protest. The weather played its part too: sunshine, around 20 degrees and a light breeze made for ideal conditions on the track and a wonderful atmosphere for spectators. "We put more effort into outreach than before, and it paid off," said Siegbert Bussemer, Chairman of RC Ilmenau and General Manager of the Cup. "It was a well-run, fair competition – and a wonderful celebration for the entire luge family."

In the elite men's category, Paul Gubitz (GER) claimed victory ahead of Hannes Orlamünder (GER) and Austrian rising star Paul Socher (AUT). Socher, Junior World Champion 2025, is set to make his senior World Cup debut in the 2026/27 season – third place in Ilmenau behind two established World Cup competitors is a small but telling statement. In the elite women's category, 2024/25 Junior World Cup overall winner Josephine Buse (GER) took the win ahead of 2024 Youth Olympic Games champion Antonia Pietschmann (GER) and Helena Trampe (GER). In Youth A, Leander Nitsche (GER) won the men's title and Nina Grumser (AUT) the women's.

The date for the 34th FIL Summer Luge Cup in 2027 has not yet been confirmed. The first or second week of June is the target.

Results Results Ilmenau 20262.91 MB