"Willi Hafner’s achievements for the sport of luge in South Tyrol, but also far beyond the province’s borders, are huge." With these few words Alfred Jud, Vice-President for Technical Matters Natural Track of the International Luge Federation (FIL) and President for the province of South Tyrol within the Italian Winter Sports Federation, has characterized Hafner, a pioneer of the sport of luge. On November 10, Willi Huber from Mölten, died aged 58 after a long illness.

In acknowledgment of his achievements for the sport of luge, Hafner was awarded South Tyrol’s Medal of Honor for Sport by governor Luis Durnwalder only a few weeks ago. Willi Hafner was a very popular and well-known international luge judge. His last major assignment was at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Cesana/Turin. From the 16 years he was on the board of the South Tyrol Winter Sports Federation, he spent eight years as the responsible person for the sport of luge. In 1992, Alfred Jud became his successor. "He did not succeed in overcoming his illness. Not only South Tyrol has lost a great person.”