The countdown to the FIL World Cup in natural track luge is on: On Thursday, December 15th, the 2022/2023 World Championship season will start. Andreas Castiglioni, FIL Sports Director for Natural Track, looks at the upcoming races. Here is the full interview:

FIL: The coming season has some new features in store, e.g. at the World Cup opener in Winterleiten (AUT) the eliminator (formerly the pursuer) will return to the racing calendar...
Andreas Castiglioni: "We last held an eliminator in January 2020 at the World Cup in Passeier (ITA). This competition in the direct KO system is very well received by the fans, as there are in each battle winners and losers. Such a race would have been planned for last winter's final in Moscow, but as you all know, due to the attack on Ukraine, the finale was canceled without replacement. The cards will probably be reshuffled for everyone at the Eliminator on December 18.”

There are more innovations throughout the season, right?
Castiglioni: “With Jaufental (ITA) there is a new venue on the World Cup calendar. The organizers there have shown in recent years with the Junior World Cup, the Junior European Championships and the Junior World Championships that they can organize first-class races. Jaufental is definitely an enrichment for the World Cup.”

The highlight will be the World Championships in Romania in February?
Castglioni: “From a sporting point of view, a world championship is always the highlight of the season. And here again we are breaking new ground this time: Before the World Championships in Vatra Dornei, we will hold a World Cup there, followed by the title fights. In this way, in these difficult times we reduce the travel costs for the respective teams, as they cover several races with just one trip.”

And what about the so-called classics?
Castiglioni: “With Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA) and the finale in Umhausen (AUT), two classics are also part of the game. A victory in these races simply has a different meaning for the athletes. Races like the floodlight finale shouldn't be missing in any season."

In summary, what do you expect from the 2022/2023 World Cup season?
Castiglioni: "The last few years have not been easy because of corona. PCR tests, entry and exit forms, compulsory masks - all of this is no longer necessary. Fans are also welcome on site again - that's what the athletes train for. You have to imagine, there are some young athletes who have never competed in a World Cup race in front of an audience! It will certainly be a very special winter for them. From my point of view, the season will be a good season if it becomes a completely normal season. We are all looking forward to that.”

The FIL Luge World Cup natural track 
December 15th-17th, 2022: Winterleiten (AUT)
December 18th, 2022: Eliminator Winterleiten (AUT)
January 6th-8th, 2023: Mariazell (AUT)
January 13th-15th, 2023: Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA)
January 27th-29th, 2023: Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA)
February 8th-9th, 2023: Vatra Dornei (ROU)
February 17th-19th, 2023: Umhausen (AUT)

Championships
February 10th-12th, 2023: FIL World Championships Natural Track Luge Vatra Dornei (ROU)