(es) - The German natural track lugers have to get along with the retirement of Björn Kierspel. Kierspel’s colleagues beside his former doubles partner Christian Wichan don’t let themselves down. Quite the contrary: Once a month the athletes meet at the Bavarian Olympic training base in Berchtesgaden for extra training. The natural track lugers are being supported by Patric Leitner, Olympic Champion and several times World Champion on artificial track in doubles and current coach for athletic sports at the German Federation for sled sports (BSD). “The athletes practice athletics, power, endurance and starting. Due to their jobs or their school schedule and because they are from different regions in Upper Bavaria it’s not possible for them to train together more often”, explains Thomas Niemetz, coordinator for natural track luge at the BSD. “The continuous training has to be done at home or in cooperation with their local club.” At the monthly meetings, they analyze whether the athletes have advanced. One training session in Berchtesgaden lasts for about three hours – including warm up, circuit training and exercises with the agility ladder. Finally, they do some exercises in the gym. The participants from the national team are: Markus Grausam, Georg Maurer, Michaela Maurer, Michaela Niemetz und Christian Wichan. “Patric Leitner is helping our athletes with words and deeds and helps them with their training schedules. We will find out in the winter what all the hard work was for”, Niemetz is looking forward to the results in the winter.