Season opener of the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup on the Olympic track for Beijing 2022

Yanqing (FIL) 170 luge athletes from 27 nations, 57 women's and 53 men's singles as well as 30 doubles, will participate in the season opener of the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup on the Olympic track for Beijing 2022, China, from November 19 to 21, 2021. The first World Cup of the Olympic season, at the Yanqing National Sliding Center, is also a test event for the organisers for the Winter Olympics starting on 4 February 2022.

In preparation for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, which will begin in three months' time, an International Training Week (ITW) for luge athletes has already been held since 7 November 2021. The aim was to gain experience on the still unknown Olympic track.

Two lugers of the same nationality tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival and at the end of the first week. Both were taken to quarantine hotels and show no symptoms. The comprehensive COVID-19 protocols for the events will be implemented by the FIL in cooperation with the local organisers. The implementation of the Playbooks for athletes and teams as well as the agreed protocols should enable the realisation of the training week and test event. The playbooks provide for the 14-day isolation of contacts of the two athletes who tested positive.
FIL Executive Director Christoph Schweiger says: "In China there are very strict Covid-19 regulations, which have been published in the playbook for athletes and teams. For example, if you are identified as a contact person of an infected person, you have to expect restrictions such as quarantine in a single room, eating alone, wearing a mask all the time, close-meshed Covid tests and so on for 14 days. However, you are allowed to participate in training and competitions as long as you test negative. The Chinese health authorities set these rules and also determine the contact persons. Everything is very strictly controlled".

Olympic dress rehearsal at the World Cup start in China

The EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup will start into the 44th FIL World Cup season with the Olympic dress rehearsal from November 19-21, 2021 at the new Olympic track, the Yanqing National Sliding Center. Located 75 kilometres northwest of Beijing's city centre, Yanqing is a suburb of China's capital. The mountainous terrain is home to hot springs, national parks, ski resorts and the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China.
The track for the Olympic competitions in luge, bobsleigh and skeleton is currently the longest and most modern artificial track in the world, with 1,583 metres from the men's start and 16 curves for women and men. A gigantic structure that resembles an Asian snake. Two "chicanes" in the form of uphill passages and curve eleven as a 370-degree roundabout have to be negotiated. Above curve 13, the new ice rink even houses a hotel. The artificial ice rink in Yanqing is the first in China, the third in Asia and the 17th worldwide for the sports of luge, bobsleigh and skeleton.
 

Mateusz Sochowicz on his way to Poland

On Monday, 15 November 2021, Polish luger Mateusz Sochowicz, who had to undergo surgery on his kneecap after a training accident on 8 November that was not his fault, was flown to Poland. The 25-year-old 2018 Olympian will be taken to a rehabilitation centre in Poznan (POL).

FIL Executive Director Christoph Schweiger confirmed: "Mateusz received excellent medical care at the university hospital in Yanqing, I was able to see for myself". FIL President Einars Fogelis said: "I would like to personally thank our friends from BOCOG and the YSC Sliding Center for the good cooperation during the last days. We are very happy about the support and care of Mateusz, who will approach his rehabilitation optimistically and motivated. His goal remains an Olympic participation in Beijing 2022".
 

Quotes:

Norbert Loch, Head Coach GER: "We have a very difficult situation here for our team. Everyone has come to terms with it because the rules of the playbooks say so and we can't change anything anyway. 
The Olympic track here in Yanqing is very interesting and selective. It offers various difficulties. Those who are able to get to grips with these difficulties can finish far ahead, even with small driving errors".

Tucker West (USA): "The track is very unique. It has been a much steeper learning curve than anyone had anticipated coming in. Each day gets better and better though as we figure out the correct driving lines down the track. The World Cup race is coming up quickly so we are trying to put finishing touches on line while also trying to find the speed."

Jayson Terdiman (USA): “The track is definitely different from any other in the world. The way it’s built, and shaped… it’s really hard to compare it to anything I’ve slid on before”.
“For me, the biggest difference has been the lack of pressure in corners. Making it difficult to feel exactly where we are (high/low) when exiting curves”.
“It’s been a rough start for Chris and myself, but we hope things will turn around quickly. We know we are at a huge disadvantage because of our lack of preseason training, not to mention trying to learn a new track on a brand new sled”.
“One thing that has kept our spirits high, is that the new sled (even with our rough runs and mistakes) seems to have a lot of speed! It appears that André (Florscheutz) has once again delivered what was promised. And I know we will get full confirmation of that once we get a few more runs under our belts and especially on tracks we already know”.
“Outside of sliding, the Beijing area is absolutely gorgeous. The mountains in this region are breathtaking! All the volunteers/workers here have been incredibly friendly and as helpful as they can be. The language barrier has proven a bit tough, but we are all making it work! I have no doubt that the Games in February will be very memorable for any athlete that competes here!”

Ashley Farquharson (USA): "The area we're in is amazing. I love how close to the mountains we are and how the sunrises/sunsets are always lovely. The track is very different than most others and requires a different approach, but we're chipping away at it and it's coming along nicely." 

Renè Friedl, head coach AUT: "In the beginning we had to be a bit patient, but now everything fits. We have long and intensive days all the way through. The construction of the sports facility here is very impressive - a real work of art. The track itself is challenging from top to bottom and needs a lot of feeling. It's a challenge to slide here, but it's a lot of fun. We constantly exchange information with eachother, there are no secrets in our team”.

Olympic Champion David Gleirscher (AUT): "I really like the new Olympic track at the Yanqing National Sliding Center. It's a lot of fun to luge there. The new track has a very special rhythm. You definitely have to slide with a lot of feeling. I would say that it was certainly not a disadvantage that I had already been there last year for the pre-homologation. I was already familiar with the track. However, the ice construction was quite different last year and therefore some passages are clearly different to drive. So far I am quite satisfied with the way things are going here. I have worked out the track quite well again and am already looking forward to the start of the World Cup”.

Brothers Andris and Juris Sics (LAT): "Together we participated in the first test runs of the new Olympic tracks in Sochi, Pyeongchang and in Beijing. Our first impressions of the track are very good. Those responsible for the construction of the new track have invested a lot of work in the architecture and construction of the track. It was worth it, it has become really interesting. The track is not easy to ride. There are similar elements as on the Olympic tracks in Nagano, Sotchi and Whistler but nevertheless there are also completely new parts that we haven't seen anywhere else."

1st EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup, 
 

Yanqing National Sliding Center (CHN)
Local time in Beijing / (USA: E.T.)

November 19, 2021 
9:00am Nations Cup /(8pm ET in the US)
Medal Ceremony Finish Area 
14:30  Training for seeded group 
18:00  Team Captains’ Meeting Finish House 4F/Online 

November 20, 2021 
16:30 Doubles Run 1 (3:30am ET in the US)
18:00 Doubles Run 2 
Flower & Award Ceremony Finish Area 
19:24 Men’s Run 1 
21:05 Men’s Run 2 
Flower & Award Ceremony Finish Area 

November 21, 2021 
17:55 Women’s Run 1 (4:55am ET in the US)
19:25 Women’s Run 2 
Flower & Award Ceremony Finish Area 
21:25 Team Relay Flower & Award

TV times and further information on the 1st EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup can be found under the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-world-cup-8 

FIL Media Guide - Info on athletes:inside
FIL_Medienguide_AU21-1279_WEB-Version (fil-luge.org)