The countdown for the new season in the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track is running, there is not much missing until the beginning of the 2020/2021 season. Kick-off is on December 10th in Kühtai (AUT). However, the current coronavirus pandemic is a question mark.

Küthai during the FIL World Cup in 2018

Everything would actually be wonderful: The preparations for the World Cup opening in Kühtai are in full swing, and the temprary track should be set up at the beginning of December. Then the international training week would be held and the World Cup winter could start as planned on December 10th. In winter sports, weather-related postponements and cancellations - races had to be postponed because of too much snow as well - are normal. In this area, the FIL and its officials are battle-tested and stress-resistant. But now a virus pandemic threatens to spoil the game. “Today's data and figures will no longer say anything tomorrow. The situation changes every day”, FIL Vice-President and Natural Track Coordinator Peter Knauseder summarizes the situation. There is no planning security and there is no end in sight to this uncertainty: “We have to expect that fewer athletes will be at the start this winter. Because of the World Championships, more athletes should use the World Cup as preparation. But who can say what the travel regulations will be in January or February? ”To minimize the risk of travel restrictions, the World Cups will only take place in Austria and Italy. Kühtai starts with the World Cup and pursuit-race from December 10th to 13th, and then continues on December 16th in Winterleiten (AUT). In the new year, two stages are on the program in mid-January in Passeier (ITA), followed by the World Cup and final in Laas (ITA) in mid-February. The highlight of the season are the 23rd FIL World Championships from February 4th to 7th in Umhausen (AUT). “This is the most important race for me this year. Everything else is subordinated to the World Championships. The training program is designed in a way that I am at the peak at this event” says local hero Thomas Kammerlander, who has won the overall World Cup for the last four seasons in a row, but still has to wait for World Champion title.

The FIL has submitted a rigorous corona concept, athletes, supervisors and officials must show a negative test and will be tested again on site. And all races take place without spectators.