Preview: 7th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup Oberhof (GER) & 1st Mixed European Championships:
Luge Elite Returns To Thuringia / European Championship Premiere For Mixed Events
Oberhof (FIL/21 Jan 2026) For the second time this season, the world best luge athletes will be competing for World Cup points at the 7th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup at the LOTTO Thüringen Eisarena Oberhof on Friday and Saturday, January 23 and 24, 2026. A total of 101 sleds from 21 nations will compete in the second World Cup in Oberhof. 133 athletes have registered, including 28 women and 41 men in the singles and 13 woman’s and 19 men’s doubles (64 doubles athletes).
In addition to the World Cup races, the 1st EBERSPAECHER Mixed European Championships presented by SKECHERS will be held on Saturday afternoon. In the Mixed World Cup in the singles and doubles disciplines, one man and one woman compete in the singles, and one men's and one women's doubles team compete in a mixed relay. Each discipline uses its usual starting height. Unlike in the team relay, international teams can also be formed here. Twenty mixed singles and 14 mixed doubles teams have registered for Oberhof.
The last World Cup before the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 was actually planned to take place at the ice track in Königssee (Germany). Unexpected damage to the cooling system of the Königssee artificial ice track, which is currently under reconstruction, led to the cancellation of the originally planned Olympic dress rehearsal in Bavaria in the summer of 2025. The experienced team led by OC boss Uwe Theisinger stepped in and is hosting the second World Cup in a row.
European Championship Premiere For Mixed Events
On Saturday afternoon, the EBERSPAECHER Mixed European Championships presented by SKECHERS will be held for the first time as a race-in-race with the World Cup. Unlike at the 2025 World Championships in Whistler, only European teams will be included in the European Championship standings. “Introduced last year, the mixed events were a huge success. For the first time in the history of luge, all nations that actually participate in the World Cup can take part in a final run. Even if a team does not have two athletes, they can field an international team, as we have already seen with Switzerland/Australia, Slovakia/Argentina, and Ireland/Japan,” explains FIL Sports Director Matthias Böhmer. “Athletes who are otherwise never part of a team now have the chance to participate in a second event. The feedback and enthusiasm from the spectators was so good that we decided to take the next step and introduce a continental championship with the Mixed European Championships. We are confident that this will help many developing nations to receive more support in the future.”
The race in Oberhof also marks the World Cup final in the FIL Mixed World Cup presented by SKECHERS. Germany and Austria shared the podium places in the first two races in the mixed singles: While Lisa Schulte and Jonas Müller (AUT) won in Winterberg, Merle Fräbel and Max Langenhan (GER) won in Lake Placid. Julia Taubitz and Felix Loch (GER) finished second both times. Bronze went to Hannah Prock and Wolfgang Kindl and Dorothea Schwarz and Jonas Müller (all AUT) respectively.
In the mixed doubles, only the first race in Winterberg could be held, while the second in Lake Placid was canceled due to bad weather and technical problems. The German teams Wendl/Arlt and Degenhardt/Rosenthal won ahead of Steu/Kindl and Egle/Kipp (AUT) and Bots/Plume and Upite/Pavlova (LAT).
Lisa Schulte tied with Julia Taubitz, Müller, Egle/Kipp, and Wendl/Arlt lead the overall World Cup standings
After the World Cup in Oberhof, which was also held as the European Championships, the last World Cup before the Winter Olympics is on the agenda in Oberhof. After six of nine World Cups, the excitement continues. Lisa Schulte (tied with Germany’s Julia Taubitz), Jonas Müller, the women's doubles Selina Egle/Lara Kipp (all AUT) and the German doubles Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt currently lead the World Cup standings.
Selina Egle and Lara Kipp in particular are unstoppable in the women's doubles. The Austrians have been on the podium at every World Cup so far, winning twice and finishing second four times. They lead the overall standings with 540 points ahead of the German doubles Eitberger/Matschina (480 points) and Degenhardt/Rosenthal (430 points). Eitberger/Matschina also made it onto the podium in every race with one win, two second places, and three third places. In the men's doubles, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (GER) won their 59th World Cup race and their sixth European Championship title. With 466 points, they have also taken a clear lead in the overall World Cup standings ahead of Gatt/Schöpf (AUT, 384 points) and Bots/Plume (LAT, 362 points).
The women are engaged in an exciting race for the big crystal globe this season. After winning silver at the European Championships, Lisa Schulte (AUT) is tied for first place with 379 points, ahead of last year's winner Julia Taubitz (GER). Team mate Hannah Prock (373 points) follows in third place.
There is also a real neck-and-neck race among the men: Jonas Müller (AUT) leads with 530 points ahead of Felix Loch (GER, 513 points) and Max Langenhan (GER, 435 points). Müller and Loch have both already secured three wins and two second places this season.
An overview of the overall World Cup standings and the individual disciplines can be found here World Cup overall standings - Luge
Skechers becomes official footwear supplier to the FIL
The International Luge Federation (FIL) and Skechers have signed a long-term supplier agreement: The global footwear manufacturer will serve as the FIL's official footwear supplier until the 2029/30 season. The partnership came into effect at the 6th EBERSPAECHER World Cup and European Championships in Oberhof (Germany) on January 17 and 18, 2026. The Skechers brand is visibly represented on the luge racing shoes. This also applies explicitly to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Skechers to be official footwear supplier to FIL until 2029/30
AXA Winter World inspires young talent in Oberhof
During the past World Cup weeks, Oberhof was not only the focus of attention for biathlon, Nordic skiing, and luge fans, but also for young athletes. AXA Winter World is an attractive interactive area for children and families that introduces them to winter sports. This weekend, young visitors will once again have the opportunity to try out various winter sports for themselves between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The program includes laser shooting, cross-country skiing, and a luge course. The event is organized jointly by the Thuringian Ski Association and the Thuringian Sledding and Bobsleigh Association and is free of charge. The central meeting point is the Winter World tent between the LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-HALLE and the SNOWPARK on the Fallbachhang.
Road to Milano-Cortina:
Armin Zöggeler (ITA): The legend of luge
The South Tyrolean “cannibal” is the legend of luge. Six Olympic medals in a row, including two gold, 57 World Cup victories, and ten overall World Cup trophies make him the most successful Olympic luger of all time. Zöggeler's precision, mental strength, and tireless ambition have not only shaped his successful career from Lillehammer 1994 to Sochi 2014, but also Italy's luge heritage. Today, he is a role model, ambassador, and inspiration for the next generation of athletes who are following in his footsteps on the ice. Armin Zöggeler – The Legend of Luge
FIL Portraits of the Week:
Alex Ferlazzo (AUS): The Olympic luger from Down Under
From the tropics straight to the ice track: Alex Ferlazzo is the pioneer of Australian luge and one of the most extraordinary faces in the sport. Growing up in sunny Townsville, with no ice rink in his own country, he forged his path with creativity, hard work, and unwavering determination – from training on the streets on wheels to competing in the Olympics on the world's biggest stage. With three Olympic appearances and a historic 16th place finish in Beijing in 2022, Ferlazzo has already made sporting history for Australia. Now the 30-year-old has his sights set on Milan-Cortina 2026 – and could become the first Australian luger ever to compete in four Winter Olympics. His story impressively demonstrates that origin knows no boundaries when passion and perseverance determine the path. Alex Ferlazzo – The Olympic luger from Down Under
Wolfgang Kindl (AUT): One athlete, three disciplines, one extraordinary career
Wolfgang Kindl has achieved what many only dream of. He is currently the only luger to compete in three disciplines at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cups – men's singles, men's doubles, and team relay. The Tyrolean is thus making not only national but also international sporting history. His career has been marked by setbacks, perseverance, and historic successes, including a double victory in the singles and doubles at the 2025 World Cup in Pyeongchang, a feat that only four athletes before him had achieved since 1977. With Thomas Steu from Vorarlberg on course for a record in the doubles and his unique versatility, Kindl is now looking ahead to Milan-Cortina 2026, ready to make history once again. Wolfgang Kindl – the versatile luger
Athletes’ Quotes:
Lisa Schulte (AUT): "The speed was right, but my runs weren't quite technically clean today. Merle Fräbel was in a league of her own from the start to the finish. I think I got the most out of it and am very happy with second place.“
Natalie Maag (SUI): ”I was very happy with my third place last week. It just felt good. Before the World Cup in Oberhof, I had hoped that I would finally achieve a result that would satisfy me. The weather conditions were difficult during the week, but I realized that something was possible. Racing in Oberhof in front of the crowd is just amazing, and I think every luger loves being here, if only because of the atmosphere at the track. The season has been very mixed so far. I had a great start with fifth place at the test event in Cortina. I wanted to stay in that region, but I wasn't so happy with two seventh places, and then things went downhill in Lake Placid. That broke me a little, because it's a track I really enjoy racing on and I had hoped to make it onto the podium. Now I'm looking forward to another week in Oberhof and then I'll be focusing all my attention on the Olympic Games in Cortina."
Jonas Müller (AUT): "The training sessions weren't quite as good, but I knew that even with small mistakes, you can still be fast here. I didn't expect to set a start and track record, especially since the Germans are always very strong here. It's just a lot of fun at the moment, the equipment is running well, the coaches are doing a tremendous job, and things are looking good at the start. I'm extremely happy. “
Jessica Degenhardt GER): ”It was a dream race last Sunday in Oberhof, even though we were unsure on the sled because we made a few small mistakes. But I think we were in a good position on the sled and we knew we could do it. The first run gave us strength for the second. I was sitting at the start and heard that Selina had broken the track record and just thought, no, we're not going to let that happen. We then gave it our all again. What a race!“
Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER): ”There's always a great atmosphere in Oberhof when you cross the finish line—you can't be in a bad mood there. Especially after a race like the last on Sunday, it's cool that so many people are celebrating with you."
Schedule & TV broadcasts
7th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup, Oberhof 2 (GER) & 1st Mixed Event European Championships
Local start time (=CET/MEZ)
Friday, January 23, 2026
10:05 a.m. Men's Singles, 1st Run
11:30 a.m. Women's Singles, 1st Run
12:55 p.m. Men's Singles, 2nd Run
2:20 p.m. Women's Singles, 2nd Run
Saturday, January 24, 2026
9:20 a.m. Women's doubles, 1st run
10:15 a.m. Women's doubles, 2nd run
11:10 a.m. Men's doubles, 1st run
12:25 p.m. Men's doubles, 2nd run
1:40 p.m. Mixed singles
3:10 p.m. Mixed doubles
All information is subject to change!
Link to live TV broadcast and results: fil-luge.org/en/results/eberspaecher-world-cup-51
Link to the results in the mixed event: fil-luge.org/en/results/eberspaecher-mixed-world-cup-presented-by-skechers-2025-2026-id-2581
Link to the biographies of the athletes: Athlete overview & achievements - International Luge Federation FIL (fil-luge.org)
