On Friday at Winterleiten (AUT) the starting signal was given for the new season in the FIL Luge World Cup on natural track. World Champion Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) was in a class of his own with a slight thaw.

Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) on the way to his 24th victory in World Cup

Winterleiten (FIL/16.12.2022) Kammerlander set the tone right from the start on the 940 meter long track in Styria. In the first run he set the best time in 1:01.61 minutes, ahead of his teammate Michael Scheikl (+0.16 seconds) and Florian Clara (+0.30/ITA). In the second run, "Kammi" duped the competitors, set the best time again and celebrated his 24th World Cup victory in 2:04.26 minutes. Scheikl (+0.52) following second and Clara (+0.64) in third position.

(from left) Michael Scheikl (AUT), Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) and Florian Clara (ITA)

“It was a great race with the fastest time in both runs – it couldn’t be better. My big goal for my last season is to reach the 25 World Cup victories, I'm one step closer to that goal now," said Kammerlander happily at the finish. While Scheikl was able to win the last three World Cups in Winterleiten, doubles specialist Clara was only on the podium for the third time in his career in singles, after Kühtai in 2014 and Vatra Dornei in 2022.

On Saturday in Winterleiten, the women's World Cup opener and the doubles are on the program, as well as the eliminator (formerly the pursuer) in doubles. The eliminator for women and men follows on Sunday.

Program Winterleiten

Saturday, Decmber 17th
10 am: First run doubles
10.30 am: First run women
11.30 am: Final run doubles, followed by flower & award ceremony
12.15 pm: Final run women, followed by flower & award ceremony
1 pm: Eliminator doubles
Sunday, December 18th
10 am: Eliminator men and women, followed by flower & award ceremony