The new season of the FIL World Cup in natural track luge was officially presented on Tuesday in the media hall in Hall in Tirol (AUT). The 2023/2024 World Cup starts next weekend in Kühtai (AUT).

Full house at the presentation of the new season Foto: Florian Scheible

Hall in Tirol (FIL/December 13, 2023) World Champions, European Champions, World Cup- and overall winners were present at the media presentation, especially the great dominator of recent years, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA). The 32-year-old scored her first World Cup points in the winter of 2007/2008, and now she has 43 World Cup victories, seven overall victories and four World Cup and European Championship gold medals each in the women's singles. “I don’t lack motivation, I prepared well in the summer and am looking forward to the start of the season.” Her goal is clear: “There is no resting, the girls will put pressure on me. I will have to perform at my best in every race,” says Lanthaler. The “young wild ones” undoubtedly include Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) and Lisa Walch (GER). Both won the world championship title in the juniors, and both have already made it onto the podium in the FIL World Cup. “The start in Kühtai will be interesting, the track there doesn’t forgive any mistakes,” says the local hero from Sellrain. Walch agrees: “It’s a beautiful track and actually new territory for everyone. It will be important to stay close on Evelin.”

In the men's category, two top dogs have retired: overall World Cup winner Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) and World Champion Alex Gruber (ITA). The so-called “old guard” around Michael Scheikl (AUT) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA) is heading into the European Championship season with a lot of ambition. “In the last two years I was third in the overall World Cup, always behind Kammerlander and Gruber. It would be nice if I could get my second big globe. But just because it was like that on paper doesn’t mean it has to be like that on the track,” Scheikl remains grounded. Pigneter also warns against starting the new season overconfidently: “In recent years, young athletes have repeatedly shown what they are made of. The pressure will certainly not lessen.” Pigneter is aiming for his 50th World Cup victory this season. It doesn't matter whether it will happen this weekend: “I have learned to be patient in 19 World Cup seasons. I look from race to race.”

The President of the International Luge Federation FIL, Einars Fogelis, is looking forward to the new season: “We are looking forward to the new season with confidence. The natural track in Kühtai is in operation for several weeks now. As a luge association, we see that the work is bearing fruit. I wish all athletes an injury-free winter and hope for exciting races.”
The FIL World Cup in natural track luge is held in Austria, Italy and Romania, and the season runs until the end of February. Andreas Castiglioni (Director of Sport and Technology, Natural Track): “In natural track luge, we have no worries about young talent, on the contrary. There are also four World Cup races in the Junior World Cup this winter and a major event with the Junior World Championships. In the FIL General Class World Cup there are six races and one eliminator on the calendar. The highlight of the season will be the European Championships in February. We’re excited that it’s starting now.”

The World Cups can be followed via livetream on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL.

The racing calendar at a glance

World Cup 2023/2024
16th/17th December: Kühtai (AUT)
6th/7th January: Lasa/Lasa, ITA
18th/2t1 January: Umhausen, AUT
1st/2nd February: Jaufental/Val di Giovo, ITA
15th/18th February: Vatra Dornei, ROU

30th European Championships in Natural Track 
3rd/4th February: Jaufental/Val di Giovo, ITA

Junior World Cup 2023/2024
30th/31st December: Winterleiten, AUT
4th/5th January: Ulten/Ultimo, ITA
13th/14th January: Latsch/Laces, ITA
27th/28th January: Umhausen, AUT

Junior World Championships
9th/11th February: Winterleiten, AUT