The pinnacle of the 2024/2025 season for the world's top natural track lugers is just around the corner. On Friday, January 17th, at 6 PM (CET), the 25th FIL Natural Track Luge World Championships will be officially opened in Kühtai (AUT). By Sunday, January 19th, the 2025 world champions will be crowned across four categories.
Reigning champion Evelin Lanthaler (ITA)
Kühtai (FIL/15.01.2025): Everything is set for the medal hunt in Emperor Maximilian I’s former hunting grounds. The competitions will take place on the "Kühtai" natural luge track, constructed in the summer of 2021. The first FIL Natural Track Luge World Cup on this new track was held in December 2023, with Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), Patrick Pigneter (ITA), and Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) emerging as the inaugural winners.
Lanthaler Eyes Fifth Gold Medal
In the women's singles, reigning champion Evelin Lanthaler aims to defend her title. She claimed her fourth gold medal in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA) in 2023 and could rise to the top of the all-time rankings with another victory. Currently, she shares first place (four gold medals) with Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS). Local athlete Riccarda Ruetz, a member of the organising club RC Kühtai-Sellraintal, is in the spotlight. "On my home track, I have a lot of support from fans and family, and hopefully, luck will be on my side too. A World Championship medal is what we all work towards," she says.
Local hero Riccarda Ruetz (AUT)
Multiple Contenders in Men's Singles
The men's singles titleholder, Alex Gruber (ITA), will not compete as he retired after winning the 2023 World Championship. Italy, therefore, can field a maximum of four athletes in this category, as the fixed spot reserved for the defending champion is personal. The season's three World Cups have seen two winners: Michael Scheikl (AUT) and Florian Clara (ITA). Meanwhile, three-time world champion Pigneter has yet to perform at his usual level. Podium finishes this season have also been achieved by Alex Oberhofer (ITA), Fabian Brunner (ITA), and Daniel Gruber (ITA).
Will European Gold Lead to World Gold?
The first medal decision will take place in the doubles category. The hosts' team, Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT), are the top favourites. The three-time season winners embrace their role: "We aim to make the most of it and see how it turns out. First place would be the ultimate goal," says Pichler. Edlinger adds, "We have what it takes to compete for the title. Our strong season so far is a great foundation." Pichler/Edlinger are specialists for big-events, having won their first gold medal at the 2024 European Championships in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA). Defending champions Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) are no longer competing as a duo, with Matthias now partnering his younger brother, Peter.
Italy Seeks to Defend Team Event Title
In the final event, the team competition, Italy is the defending champion, having won in 2023 with Gruber/Lanthaler, ahead of Austria (Tina Unterberger/Scheikl) and Germany (Lisa Walch/Vincent Streit). Athletes from a total of 14 countries are registered, all races will be livestreamed on the International Luge Federation (FIL) website.
A Track for Both Leisure and Competition
The new natural luge track was designed by experts from the Tyrolean Luge Federation (TRV) and the Austrian Luge Federation (ÖRV) and is considered a model project, serving both recreational and elite sports. The "Kühtai" track measures approximately 1,300 metres and starts at the "Graf-Ferdinand-Haus" at 2,120 metres above sea level. The finish is at 1,980 metres near the "Kühtai" high-performance training centre. Competitions will not cover the full length of the track, with the start slightly lower.
Track Specifications – Natural Luge Track "Kühtai"
Bird's view of the track in Kühtai
• Start: 2,075 m
• Finish: 1,980 m
• Turns: 7
• Length: 795 m
• Average Gradient: 11.9%
World Luge Day
The World Championships will be accompanied by a wide-ranging programme, culminating in the inaugural World Luge Day on Sunday, January 19th. This event aims to inspire people worldwide to discover and share the joy of luge. Luge is not a niche sport but an activity suitable for all ages, from toddlers to retirees. With this initiative, FIL aims to "go back to the roots" and highlight luge's origins as a communal experience. Events and introductory courses will be organised globally with support from FIL and national associations. Visitors near the championship track can also try out a prototype of the new Alpine luge on a practice slope. The new luge is set to replace the current model for World Cups and allow races on ski slopes.
All-Time World Championship Rankings
Men's Singles:
Gerhard Pilz (AUT): 5 gold medals
Patrick Pigneter (ITA): 3 gold medals
Alex Gruber (ITA): 3 gold medals
Women's Singles:
Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS): 4 gold medals
Evelin Lanthaler (ITA): 4 gold medals
Delia Vaudan (ITA): 3 gold medals
Doubles:
Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA): 5 gold medals
Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS): 3 gold medals
Wolfgang Schopf/Andreas Schopf (AUT): 2 gold medals
Andreas Jud/Ernst Oberhammer (ITA): 2 gold medals
Schedule
• January 17th:
9:00 AM: 1st National Training Run – Women & Men
11:00 AM: 2nd National Training Run – Women & Men
1:00 PM: 1st Training Run – Doubles
2:00 PM: 2nd Training Run – Doubles
6:00 PM: Opening Ceremony
• January 18th:
10:00 AM: 1st Run – Men's Singles
11:00 AM: 1st Run – Women's Singles
12:00 PM: 1st Run – Doubles
12:45 PM: 2nd Run – Women's Singles
2:00 PM: Final – Doubles (followed by flower ceremony)
• January 19th:
8:30 AM: World Championship Mass
10:00 AM: 2nd Run – Men's Singles
11:15 AM: Final – Women's Singles (followed by flower ceremony)
12:00 PM: Final – Men's Singles (followed by flower ceremony)
1:30 PM: Team Event (followed by flower ceremony)
2:15 PM: Medal Ceremonies – Doubles, Women's Singles, Men's Singles, and Team Event
