Oberhof (pps) Germany`s Steffen Skel/Steffen Wöller won their first international title. At the 39. European Luge-Championships in Oberhof (Germany) the sport soldiers improved their own track record of the day before with 41,181 second in first run and won clearly in one minute 22,663 seconds, follwed by Italy´s Christian Oberstolz/Patrick Gruber (one minute 22,855 seconds) and Austria`s World Champions Andreas Linger/Wolfgang Linger (one minute 23,101 seconds). Germanys Olympic Champions Patric Leitner/Alexander Resch(one minute 23,792 seconds), third after the first run, had a mistake in second run and came on rank sixth.
At the beginning of the season, Skel/Wöller missed the internal qualification for the World Cup. With winning the German Championships they managed the qualification for the European Championships.
Quotes:

Steffen Skel (GER) (Vice European Champion 1998 and 2000, Vice World Champion 2000):
„That is no satisfaction. I am glad that we could show the trainers a good result. That we won the title is the better.
Christian Oberstolz (ITA) (WM-Fifth 2003):
„Like the whole season, our training was very good. Therefore we wanted a medal. We are very satisfied. It is hard to beat Skel/Wöller on their home track.“

Wolfgang Linger (AUT) (World Champion 2003):
„With this bronze medal we had also a lot of luck. We left Schiegl/Schiegl close behind. That Leitner/Resch made such a mistake in their second run, we couldnt expect.“