Erin Hamlin wins BMW Sliding Challenge

Königssee (RWH)  There was a fun start to the 46th FIL World Luge Championships as the top athletes had a unique opportunity to show off their skills before the event gets officially underway with the opening ceremony on Thursday evening. During the BMW Sliding Challenge, the lugers had to match a time set by three-time Olympic Champion Georg Hackl as closely as possible.

Olympic bronze medallist Erin Hamlin of the USA managed to get closest, and so the 2009 World Champion was declared the winner of the BMW Sliding Challenge.

The German Olympic Champions Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt proved to be good hosts, allowing American slider Chris Mazdzer and Tatiana Ivanova of Russia to finish in second and third places respectively.