The future of luge in the spotlight at FIL commission meetings

Grödig (RWH): The future of luge was the focus of the meetings of the various commissions that belong to the International Luge Federation (FIL).

The members of the Artificial Track Commissions for Sport and Technology and the members of the Natural Track Commission met in Grödig near Salzburg (AUT). The Athletes’ Commission, which is chaired by Chris Mazdzer (USA), also held a meeting.

The Artificial Track Sport Commission discussed issues including the doubles discipline in the category of women youth A, the situation and future of the doubles event in general, and the calendar for the 2019/2020 season.

For the first time, the meeting of the Technical Commission was chaired by the FIL’s Vice President for Technical Matters, Armin Zöggeler of Italy. The two-time Olympic Champion and the other commission members discussed, amongst others, the standardised sled for the women’s doubles event, the status of artificial tracks around the world and the new artificial track being constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing (CHN).

The agenda for the Natural Track Commission’s meeting included the race schedule for next winter, the World Cup formats (including parallel and pursuit races), as well as general strategy and future plans.

The commission meetings were also attended by the FIL’s athlete representatives: Summer Britcher (USA, Technical Commission, Artificial Track), Raluca Stramaturaru (ROU, Sport Commission, Artificial Track), Chris Mazdzer (USA) and Tina Unterberger (AUT) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA) for the Natural Track.