At the „Einkehrstation im Nordpark“ near Innsbruck, Austria, at a sea level of 2,256 meters, the President of the International Luge Federation (FIL) Josef Fendt hosted a press conference as the start-off into another natural track luge season. Besides the presentation of all venues of the upcoming season, the signing of a sponsorship agreement with the Austrian company PEWO was the highlight of the day. „We are very happy about the fact that we were able to win PEWO as title sponsor of the natural track luge World Cup series. At the same time, we would like to thank our faithful sponsors Trenker and Zauner for the good partnership“, Fendt said.
Fendt continued by saying that the FIL was on a good way. „For me, it is a realistic goal for natural track luge to be included in the Olympic program by 2018“, said Fendt.
Everything has been well prepared for the upcoming World Cup season. Due to the good snow conditions the tracks have already been prepared for the races.
The chase for the big crystal ball in the 2008/2009 luge World Cup will begin on the second weekend in January in St. Sebastian, Austria. The luge track at Mariazeller Land/ Sigmundsberg was already successfully tested at the 2007 Junior European Championships.
After the competitions in the well-established World Cup venue Umhausen (Tyrol, Austria), Unterammergau (GER) will celebrate a comeback in the natural track luge World Cup after some time of absence. Particularly the German athletes are very happy about this fact. In the past few years, they have been continuously working their way up to the top ranks and want to cause a furor at this home race.
From Unterammergau, the luge teams will travel on to Deutschnofen (ITA), the fourth World Cup venue.
The World Cup finals will be held in Russia with a double World Cup. In the past season, the finals in Moscow had to be cancelled by the organizers at short notice. In this season, at the end of February, the newly-erected sport center in Novouralks (70 km north of Ekaterinenburg) will be in the spotlight. Athletes, coaches and officials are looking forward to this event with suspense. The event organizers not only promise excellent track conditions, but also wide coverage in local media as well as a great number of spectators that will ensure a great atmosphere for the event.
Besides six World Cups, the upcoming season will feature two more major events.
The FIL Junior European Championships will be held in Longariü (ITA) from February 6 to 7, 2009. One week later, the FIL World Championships will take place in Moos in Passeier (ITA) for the second time after 1980.
