Preview Women: Six different World Cup winners, but two hot favorites

Königssee (RWH) For the first time in the history of the sport, six different names adorn the list of female winners of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in the 2015/2016 winter season. Dajana Eitberger (GER), Erin Hamlin, Summer Britcher (both USA), Natalie Geisenberger (GER), Tatiana Ivanova (RUS) and Tatjana Hüfner (GER) have all won at least one World Cup from the nine races contested at the six rounds so far this season (Innsbruck, Lake Placid, Park City, Calgary, Sigulda and Oberhof). There have often been five different winners in a season since the debut event back in 1977/1978, most recently in 2015, but never six.

Ahead of the 46th International Luge Federation (FIL) World Championships on the artificial ice track in Königssee, all signs indicate that an ongoing duel is set to continue in the women’s event on January 30, 2016 (1st run at 15:20 / 2nd run at 17:05). This particular battle pits Natalie Geisenberger against Tatjana Hüfner (Photo left), 2014 Olympic Champion against 2010 Olympic Champion, two-time titleholder against four-time titleholder.

Defending champion Natalie Geisenberger goes into the event with 33 World Cup victories to her name, while her challenger Tatjana Hüfner has just ended a two-year barren spell by securing her 34th victory in Oberhof. Twenty-six-year-old Geisenberger from Miesbach secured the title of German Champion on the World Championship track over the new year. Meanwhile Hüfner, who is five years older, tore her Achilles tendon in August but set the fastest time on her first run at the National Championships and is brimming with confidence ahead of the World Championships. “I hope the upward trend continues,” Hüfner said in Oberhof in her usual understated way, looking ahead to the main event of the season.

The Thuringian refuses to be drawn into any talk of a championship duel. “It’s unlikely, as we’ve had six winners so far this season,” says Tatjana Hüfner. And there are also plenty of competitors who reckon they are in with a chance. “Emily has already shown that it can be done,” said Olympic bronze medallist Erin Hamlin from the USA, who took a surprise World Championship in Lake Placid in 2009 and has also enjoyed success at the same track this season, with reference to her teammate Emily Sweeney who took fourth place on the challenging track in Berchtesgaden last season.

Back then, Canadian Alex Gough, who is taking a partial sabbatical this winter, clinched third place. And Russian Tatiana Ivanova, runner-up at the 2012 World Championships in Altenberg and a 2015/2016 winner in Sigulda (LAT), can never be discounted. USA luger Summer Britcher (Photo right) is intent on causing another upset, having taken three victories so far this season. And Dajana Eitberger would dearly love to emerge from the shadow of her compatriots to repeat last year’s coup when she was crowned European Champion in Sochi (RUS). “I’m in good form,” said the winner of the season opener in Innsbruck.