Geislingen (pps) David Möller changed his usual two runners for four wheels for his participation in the 2009 SUZUKI Rally Cup. The luge World Champion of 2004 and 2007 performed the fourth of six runs of a rally trophy staged by the sponsor of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Geislingen, Germany, without major penalties or injuries.
The 27 year-old Möller survived a mistake unharmed – but not unimpressed: „Now I know how easy it can go wrong at a rally. After this experience I have even more respect for the rally pilots and their co-pilots.”
Möller also met another challenge: a fitness comparison test with Suzuki Rally rookie Hugo Arellano (21). At the Geislinger Rehabilitation and Sport Center (RESPO), where the second-placer in the past season’s Overall Viessmann World Cup had undergone rehabilitation after his cruciate ligament operation, both athletes were equipped with measuring devices to examine their heart rate variabilities (HRV). This gives information on the heart rate and recovery time, thus indicating how efficiently athletes can recover during relaxation periods in order to be able to return to their full performance level for the competition.
After the rally, the results were evaluated by Gerhard Oechsle, the CEO of RESPO, and Möller’s physiotherapist Michael Pössinger. The results showed that both athletes have similar dispositions, can recover efficiently and are thus well prepared for their sports, which both require concentration and psychological strength. As far as endurance is concerned, however, the luge professional with his many years of training, has a clear advantage.
