Felix Loch made the first run
Koenigssee (pps) Germany’s Olympic champion Felix Loch had the honour to make the first run on the new artificially-iced track in Koenigssee. “That was great fun. Even though the lower part of the track has been somewhat simplified it still is an extremely demanding one”, said the two-time World champion after his test run on 23rd December.
Until then those responsible had weathered difficult months. When the remodeling and construction works on the first artificially-iced track world-wide in Koenigssee started delays occurred again and again. At one moment, even hosting the Viessmann Luge World Cup on January 5-6, 2011 seemed jeopardised.
But with the homologisation by the International Luge Federation, FIL, at the latest, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “We’re really happy to give the go-ahead. The machines are running smoothly”, explained Thomas Schwab, Secretary General of the German Bobsleigh and Sled Sports Federation, BSD. As late as December 18, following a one-week delay, the refrigeration was carried out. To begin with the track was fed with gaseous ammonia but then it quickly became apparent that several safety valves were leaky. Only after these problems were resolved the track was fed with liquid ammonia.
At an expenditure of altogether 22 million euros, the remodeling and construction works took months to carry out. At the end of March 2010, the modernisations work suffered a bitter setback when the so-called “Kreisel” caught fire following some welding work and was subsequently badly damaged.
The season’s highlights - apart from the Viessmann Luge World Cup - are the World Bobsleigh and Skeleton Championships to take place on February 14-27, 2011.
