“I am so happy that it is here with all the local fans that I am celebrating this victory after more than one and a half years”, says Reinhard Gruber (23/ITA) while he is writing autographs left and right. Normally the natural track luge racers are not that much in the center of attention, but here in South Tyrol this is different. Students are brought here in busses, little kids come with huge banners for their heroes. Reinhard Gruber, more a student of physical therapy than a full time sportsman, obviousely enjoys his publicity.
Another one had not had that much publicity in this season so far: Ferdinand Hirzegger (24/AUT), last year´s serial winner and World Cup winner, has not won a race this season yet. But with two third places and a second place today he sneaked to the very top of the World Cup ranking again. “I am very happy with the result here. Normally I am better on steep and icy tracks, so this was a pretty good result here. The track had been quite soft in the upper part.” Ranks three – two - ..and one - next week in his home World Championships in Stein/Enns (AUT)? “Yes, this exactly how I have planned it”, he says with a broad smile.

In Stein/Enns will also be some famous guests from IOC: Gian-Franco Kasper and Thomas Bach are expected there for another check whether Natural Track Luge is ready to become member of the Olympic Family. However, in Luson there were 14 nations pearticipating, which is record in the history of Natural Track World Cup.

In the meanwhile there has also been found a new date for the cancelled RED BULL World Cup in Triesenberg (LIE). The parallel event will be held on January 25th now.

Final results Men´s singlesater (39):

1. Reinhard GRUBER (ITA), 1:00.28 (1), 1:00.44 (2), 2:00.72
2. Ferdinand HIRZEGGER (AUT), 1:00.39 (2), 1:00.71 (5), 2:01.10
3. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:00.93 (8), 1:00.18 (1), 2:01.11
4. Gerhard PILZ (AUT), 1:00.54 (4), 1:00.67 (4), 2:01.21
5. Roland KALLAN (AUT), 1:00.75 (7), 1:00.62 (3), 2:01.37
6. Gerald KALLAN (AUT), 1:00.51 (3), 1:01.01 (7), 2:01.52
7. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1:00.70 (5), 1:00.93 (6), 2:01.63
8. Martin PSENNER (ITA), 1:00.74 (6), 1:01.16 (8), 2:01.90
26. John GIBSON (CAN), 1:05.60 (26), 1:05.58 (27), 2:11.18
29. Andrew KOLODY (CAN), 1:05.85 (28), 1:07.87 (33), 2:13.72
35. Tom POWER (CAN), 1:18.84 (37), 1:14.05 (35), 2:32.89

World Cup Ranking after 3 races (of 6):

1. Ferdinand HIRZEGGER (AUT) 225 points
2. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA) 220
3. Gerhard PILZ (AUT) 215
4. Reinhard GRUBER (ITA) 209
5. Roland KALLAN (AUT) 157
6. Gerald KALLAN (AUT) 151

After yesterday Reinhard Gruber had started with a victory for Italy, today Sonja Steinacher and the brothers Armin and David Mair completed the Italian festival. “It was just perfect today, great atmosphere, excellent conditions, well…perfect”, the always friendly, always nice Italian postwoman says after her 8th World Cup victory. “But next week at the World Championships it will be much more difficult.” Like many of her collegues she thinks of Stein/Enns already, where next weekend the Championships will be held on a very difficult track. There have been changes on the track since last year´s World Cup. “We will see who can adjust the best, as nobody has had a lot of training there at the new track,” says also Sandra Mariner, third and satisfied today: “I am a little bit ill, have got a bad cold, considering this, I am more than happy about my third place.”
Just in time back on the podium are Armin and David Mair. “We have had some material problems at the beginning of the season. We have made some changes and now everything is fine again. Still, that we won came as a bit a surprise as we had quite a mistake in the second run.” However, they are obviousely ready to go to Enns and try to defend their World Champion title.

Some coaches are going to Stein straight from Luson. For the first time there will be held a coaches seminar under the leadership of Karl Flacher, trainer of the federation. “I am very happy about the enormous international interest and I am also proud to have people like Volker Veitl from Milupa or Dr. Lanz from Graz on the list of lecturers,” says Flacher.

Final Results Women´s singleseater:

1. Sonja STEINACHER (ITA), 1:01.69 (1), 1:02.09 (1), 2:03.78
2. Ekaterina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:02.38 (3), 1:02.36 (2), 2:04.74
3. Sandra MARINER (AUT),1:02.19 (2), 1:02.76 (4), 2:04.95
4. Ljubov PANJUTINA (RUS), 1:03.04 (5), 1:02.56 (3), 2:05.60
5. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 1:02.50 (4), 1:03.19 (6), 2:05.69
6. Sabine KOGLER (AUT), 1:03.30 (8), 1:02.91 (5), 2:06.21

World Cup Ranking after 3 of 6 races:

1. Sonja STEINACHER (ITA) 270 Punkte
2. Sandra MARINER (AUT) 255
3. Ekaterina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS) 225
4. Marlies WAGNER (AUT) 200

Final Results Men´s doubleseater:

1. Armin MAIR/David MAIR (ITA), 1:05.20 (1), 1:05.15 (2), 2:10.35
2. Denis ALIMOV/Roman MOLVISTOV (RUS), 1:05.46 (4), 1:05.74 (4), 2:11.20
3. Peter LECHNER/Peter BRAUNEGGER (AUT), 1:05.58 (5), 1:05.66 (3), 2:11.24
4. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:05.31 (2), 1:05.99 (6), 2:11.30
5. Reinhard BEER/Herbert KÖGL (AUT), 1:06.29 (7), 1:05.03 (1), 2:11.32
6. Wolfgang SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:06.17 (6), 1:05.87 (5), 2:12.04

World Cup Ranking after 3 of 5 races:

1. Reinhard BEER/Herbert KÖGL 240 Punkte
2. Peter LECHNER/Peter BRAUNEGGER (AUT) 230
2. Armin MAIR/David MAIR (ITA) 230
4. Wolfgang SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT) 185