Re-opening track in Hammarstrand (SWE)

Hammarstrand (FIL) Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the opportunities for training and competitions abroad for Swedish clubs and athletes have been drastically reduced in the winter of 2020/21. The Swedish Sliding Sports Federation, together with the Hammarstrand Luge Club, has set its sights on reopening the traditional artificial track with natural ice in Hammarstrand, Sweden, this winter. 

Until 1990, the traditional track in Scandinavia was an established part of the FIL's international racing calendar. Three times Luge World Championships were held in Hammarstrand (1967, 1975 and 1981). In 1986, the FIL European Luge Championships were last held on the naturally iced artificial track in Sweden. The track was last iced over in 2001. 

The Secretary General of the Swedish Sliding Sports Federation Niclas Bentzer reported: "The pandemic and the weather tried to stop the reconstruction several times. The goal was to rebuild 400 metres of the track, and we finally managed 300 metres. On the opening weekend from 5 to 7 March 2021, 304 runs were already made in the track." 

Especially for youth sports, for artificial track as well as natural track luge and also in the field of skeleton, the track offers ideal opportunities to introduce new athletes to the sport in a simple way.

Niclas Bentzer is highly motivated for the future: "Now we are looking ahead with the goal of modernising the track to ensure its operation and to reduce the need for man-hours before opening and maintenance. A working group will be formed and led by Hasse Abrahamson."

Hammarstrand is located in the municipality of Ragunda. The former bobsleigh and luge track was first constructed in 1964. Originally, the track was 1045 metres long, had eleven curves and a starting height of 900 metres. The last luge World Cup in Hammarstrand took place in 1990. Until the completion of the bobsleigh and luge track built for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Hammarstrand was the only bobsleigh and luge track in Scandinavia. 

photos: Roger Strandberg