FIL Summer Camp 2025 in Finland with Ice Cave Training Innovation

Leppävirta, Finland (FIL/July 4, 2025) The International Luge Federation (FIL) has launched a unique and highly focused summer development camp on July 1, 2025, at the Vesileppis Sports Center in Leppävirta, Finland.

Organized in close cooperation with the Finnish Luge Federation and its President Jani Tilvis and funded through an IOC Olympic Solidarity grant, this year's camp offers a pioneering training environment – including year-round ice conditions inside the facility’s underground “ice cave.”

“This is not your typical summer camp,” said FIL Development Director Fred Zimny. “It’s by invitation only, and every athlete attending has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their luge careers. They’ve shown a consistent willingness to train, compete, and improve – and that’s exactly the kind of athlete we want to invest in.”

The FIL Summer Camp runs from July 1 to July 10 and focuses on youth and junior athletes from the FIL Development Groups. The 18 athletes come from six nations: Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, and Great Britain. These promising young female and male luge athletes were selected based on strict criteria, including full participation in the past season’s training and competition schedule, consistent physical conditioning throughout the off-season, and achieving the minimum standard in FIL’s seven-part physical test.

The motto guiding FIL development – “Commitment, Professionalism, and Accountability” – serves as the foundation for this new approach. “We only want to invest in athletes that invest in themselves,” Zimny emphasized. “Moving forward, FIL Group athletes will be expected to commit to full-season participation and a professional attitude toward preparation and competition.”

Led by the FIL Coaches Bogdan Macovei as well as Tomas and Petr Kinzl, the camp's primary objective is to improve start technique and evaluate each athlete’s physical condition. Training takes place both in the ice cave, where athletes can practice start sequences and paddling on real ice, and on an ice hockey rink for additional paddling drills. Sessions also include gym-based strength training and athletic exercises to ensure balanced, full-body conditioning.

“There’s no shortcut to success,” said Bogdan Macovei. “We want to give the athletes clear feedback on what they need to improve between now and the start of the luge season. The goal is not just to prepare, it is important to prepare the right way.”

The Vesileppis Sports Center offers a one-of-a-kind setting for summer luge development. Its underground ice cave, kept frozen year-round, provides athletes with access to true ice surfaces even during the warmest months – a major advantage in honing technique during the off-season.

The 2025 FIL Summer Camp reflects a shift toward greater professionalism in luge development – and a firm commitment to building the next generation of elite athletes.