Smokovec/Slovakia (FIL) Markus Aschauer, manager of the artificially refrigerated track at Königssee (GER) and track expert of worldwide recognition, is the new chairman of the Track Construction Commission of the International Luge Federation (FIL). This was now decided by the FIL Executive Board on the occasion of its spring meeting held in Smokovec, Slovakia.

Markus Aschauer succeeds Walter Plaikner (ITA), who previously announced his retirement although he stays in office as chairman of the FIL Technical Commission. Markus Aschauer was recently involved in the inspection of the first artificial track outside Moscow on behalf of the FIL. The track in Paramonovo, which was constructed with an expenditure of only 45 million US dollars and is considered the world’s most low-priced artificially refrigerated track, was opened in March in the presence of Dmitri Medvedev, since May 2008 President of Russia as successor to Vladimir Putin, and FIL President Josef Fendt.