Berchtesgaden (pps) The Challenge Cup in luge is facing its third season. After the first two, very promising winters the International Luge Federation, FIL, has once again increased the prize money for the competition in the Olympic season. The athletes can now cash a total of DM114,000 of prize and starting money.

„The Challenge Cup has been well accepted by the athletes and the public”, FIL President Josef Fendt said, “we are now hoping to be able to present once again exciting, attractive and interesting races in the k.o. system in the Olympic winter.”

Characteristically, all current World champions also won last winter’s Challenge Cup: Germany’s Silke Otto in the women’s singles, Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler in the men’s singles and Germany’s Andre Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich in the doubles.

The schedule of the Challenge Cup

Calgary (pps) The Challenge Cup will start this season on Thursday, November 8, in Calgary. The preliminary rounds in Canada’s 1988 Olympic city will begin at 17:30 hrs local time (1:30 hrs CET). The second competition in the Challenge Cup will take place at Koenigssee/GER on December 7, followed by Sigulda/LAT on January 18, 2002 with the final event being held at Winterberg/GER on January 25, 2002.

Prize money for the 2002 Challenge Cup

Berchtesgaden (pps) The 2002 Challenge Cup boasts a total prize money of DM114,000, with DM28,500 being put up at each event for prize and starting money.

1st place: Women DM 3,000, Men DM 3,000, Doubles DM 3,500
2nd place: Women DM 1,500, Men DM 1,500, Doubles DM 2,000
3rd place: Women DM 1,300, Men DM 1,300, Doubles DM 1,500
4th place: Women DM 800, Men DM 700, Doubles DM 1,000

Bonus money for reaching the second rounds and starting money must be added.

Russian Demchenko „speed World record holder” of FIL

Berchtesgaden (pps) Russia’s Albert Demchenko achieved the highest speed ever recorded in luge with 144.50 kilometres per hour at the Olympic test event last year at Salt Lake City. Germany’s 1998 Olympic champion Silke Kraushaar leads in the women’s event with 132.0 km/h at St. Moritz/SUI and Germany’s former World champions, Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch in the doubles with 136.0 km/h, also achieved at Salt Lake City.