Winterberg (pps) “We needed a lot of sun cream.” Steffen Skel described with dry humour the time between failing to qualify for the start of the Viessmann Luge World Cup and the European Championships. But the doubles Steffen Skel and Steffen Woeller from Thuringia, who are competing for the club BSC Winterberg, did of course not spend their time on sunbeds or take a vacation.

The two-time World silver medallists first worked on their sled. Then they took the training opportunities with the B team of the Bobsleigh and Luge Federation for Germany, BSD. It was a lucky coincidence that the former European champion René Friedl from Winterberg, Skel-Woeller’s local coach, is responsible for the German B team.

They knew immediately that the arduous road back into the World Cup could only be achieved via the national championships and the European Championships on the Oberhof track. The two Winterberg lugers took their chance at the German Championships and won the title in superior style.

The European Championships proved to be even better. National coach Thomas Schwab surprisingly nominated the 2001 World Cup champions for the team event. Skel-Woeller thanked by setting a track record thus laying the foundation for the European gold medal in the team event. In the doubles’ event they achieved the best time in the first heat and even improved in the second heat by clocking a new track record, triggering a small fireworks when passing the finishing line and winning the first international individual title of their career.