Koenigssee (pps) It was the first artificially-iced track world-wide and Josef Fendt, President of the International Luge Federation, FIL, celebrated his two World Championship titles in Koenigssee in 1970 and 1974. Additionally, the most successful luger of all times, three-time Olympic champion Georg Hackl, refers to the track referentially as the "Streif race course in luge". And the artificially-iced track does not have to fear a comparison with the most notorious race course in Alpine skiing.
The ice labyrinth at the foot of the Watzmann mountain has long since become a myth. Venue of already five FIL Luge World Championships (1969, 1970, 1974, 1979 and 1999) - as often as no other track world-wide. And there is no other track that has carried out as many World Cup events as the one in Koenigssee. But for all that, there will be a kind of nostalgic feeling when the Viessmann Luge World Cup series will make a stop in Koenigssee for the then 29th time - as of the upcoming 2010-2011 season the present track will be no more.
The already approved "master plan for an artificially iced-track in sustainable condition" schedules costs of about 22 million Euros for the extensive reconstructions. If nothing else, these reconstructions will also be made with a view to the Munich bid to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. A new finish is planned as well as a new curve 16. Until 2014 the starting area will be newly build and upon completion in 2016 this area will be situated in a covered location. "Thus we would certainly be qualified to host Olympic Games", explained Georg Grabner of the Berchtesgaden county, simultaneously Treasurer of the German Bobsleigh and Sled Sports Federation, BSD.
