An era comes to an end: “Sled Doctors” Kirchner and Ros say goodbye

Berchtesgaden (FIL) 16 years, two luge technicians, two FIL service mobiles and about 1,000 repaired sleds - this is the balance of Gerhard “Kiki” Kirchner and Wolfgang Ros as FIL “Sled Doctors”. Small and large “operations” on the racing sleds were carried out in their blue FIL Service Mobile. Especially during the first ten years, the two Thuringian technicians had a lot of work, often until late at night, when a racing sled had to be made ready for the next morning. Especially the “small” nations, which were not able to finance their own experts for their sports equipment, were very happy to use the FIL service.

Gerhard Kirchner explained: “In the last few years, some nations have learned a lot also from our  experience. Over the years, the work became less than it was at the beginning. The best thing for me was that I had been involved with young people in sports for almost 60 years and that keeps you young”. 
Gerhard Kichner was a luge athlete himself until 1964, when he became a coach in Thuringia and then worked for 28 years as a luge developer for the FES (Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment). Kirchner from Ilmenau managed the Berlin branch office for racing sleds in Oberhof. After the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Kirchner retired and was asked by the FIL whether he could help other nations as an expert in material issues. Kirchner agreed and from then on organized the free service offer for many luge nations. He was supported by Wolfgang Ros, especially during the last years, but also earlier. 
 “It was good that we could take turns. At our age, it often gets a bit tough and so we had the rule that I would go the further distances in Europe as the 71-year-old younger man in that job”, said Wolfgang Ros.

The 80-year-old Gerhard Kirchner concluded: “The corona virus really makes it easier for us to say goodbye. Otherwise, we would certainly have brought our vehicle and tools back even more wistfully”. And Wolfgang Ros added: “I'm not completely gone yet. I will be happy to be a judge at the World Cup in Oberhof”.

FIL President Josef Fendt presented presents and thanked the two technicians: “On behalf of the entire FIL Executive Board I would like to thank our two sled experts. "Kiki" Kirchner had been with us longest as FIL mechanic and his service was incredibly well received. With Gerhard Kirchner and Wolfgang Ros, two experts were at work doing their job with heart. I don't see this as a farewell but as the end of an era. I am sure we will meet again in the future at one or the other luge competition. I say thank you and wish you all the best!”