The guys just sent in this video update for all their fans at LugeNews.com. Watch to see a little of the on ice action from the first 3 World Cup events.... and stick around to the end of the vid for a little something special.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
FIL PEWO World Cup - Deutschnofen, Preview
FIL PEWO World Cup Natural Track
Press Information, Thursday, January 29th, 2009
FIL PEWO World Cup in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA)
Early World Cup decisions on a new track
The fourth out of six world cup races will be an early decision for the overall ranking in the PEWO World Cup. Deutschnofen/Nova Ponenete is a new track on the tour this will be the first World Cup ever hosted there. However, the track is not an unknown to the athletes, almost all nations have been practising there and know very well what to expect.
Spectators can expect a tight head-to-head race between Gerald Kammerlander (AUT) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA) as only one point separates them in the PEWO overall World Cup ranking.
With three wins in three races Renate Gietl (ITA) will be the clear favourite in her home country.
In the doubleseater event nothing has been decided yet, just as every year four nations – Russia, Austria, Poland and Italy - are fighting for the number one position.
New to the World Cup circuit are two Korean sliders; Yamo Hyun and Lee Jenng-II.
[ Luge News note: These sliders are so new they aren't listed in the FIL Athlete database - if I messed up their names any help would be appreciated. And, I also have to say; that looks like it hurt! ]
In the first race of the season FIL trainer Karl Flacher denied them a start permit as the risk would have been too high. In the meantime they have been practising a lot and have learned to manage the steep racetracks. Before they will be able to chase the top performers, it will take a lot more trainings runs, though.
The PEWO World Cup in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente will be a night event. Training runs will be held on Friday and Saturday, the competition will start on Saturday at 2pm.
Track Info:
Length of track: 871 meters
Altitude of Start: 1505 m above sea level
Altitude of Finish: 1384 m
Difference between start and finish: 121 m
Average descent: 13%
Maximum descent: 16%
Minimum descent: 5%
Program:
Friday, 30.01.2009:
12.00pm: Team Captain´s Meeting
3.00pm: 1.Training run women and men
6.00pm: 2.Training run women and men
afterwards 1.Training run doubles
afterwards Opening Ceremony
Saturday, 31.01.2009:
1.00pm: 2.Training run doubles
2.00pm: 1.competition run doubles
3.00pm: 2.competition run doubles
afterwards Flower Ceremony
4.00pm: 1.competition run women and men
6.00pm: 2.competition run women and men
afterwards Flower Ceremony
afterwards: Medal Ceremonies
All Photos Credit to: FIL/Sobe
Press Information, Thursday, January 29th, 2009
FIL PEWO World Cup in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA)
Early World Cup decisions on a new track
The fourth out of six world cup races will be an early decision for the overall ranking in the PEWO World Cup. Deutschnofen/Nova Ponenete is a new track on the tour this will be the first World Cup ever hosted there. However, the track is not an unknown to the athletes, almost all nations have been practising there and know very well what to expect.
Spectators can expect a tight head-to-head race between Gerald Kammerlander (AUT) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA) as only one point separates them in the PEWO overall World Cup ranking.
With three wins in three races Renate Gietl (ITA) will be the clear favourite in her home country.
In the doubleseater event nothing has been decided yet, just as every year four nations – Russia, Austria, Poland and Italy - are fighting for the number one position.
New to the World Cup circuit are two Korean sliders; Yamo Hyun and Lee Jenng-II. [ Luge News note: These sliders are so new they aren't listed in the FIL Athlete database - if I messed up their names any help would be appreciated. And, I also have to say; that looks like it hurt! ]
In the first race of the season FIL trainer Karl Flacher denied them a start permit as the risk would have been too high. In the meantime they have been practising a lot and have learned to manage the steep racetracks. Before they will be able to chase the top performers, it will take a lot more trainings runs, though.
The PEWO World Cup in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente will be a night event. Training runs will be held on Friday and Saturday, the competition will start on Saturday at 2pm.
Track Info:
Length of track: 871 meters
Altitude of Start: 1505 m above sea level
Altitude of Finish: 1384 m
Difference between start and finish: 121 m
Average descent: 13%
Maximum descent: 16%
Minimum descent: 5%
Program:
Friday, 30.01.2009:
12.00pm: Team Captain´s Meeting
3.00pm: 1.Training run women and men
6.00pm: 2.Training run women and men
afterwards 1.Training run doubles
afterwards Opening Ceremony
Saturday, 31.01.2009:
1.00pm: 2.Training run doubles
2.00pm: 1.competition run doubles
3.00pm: 2.competition run doubles
afterwards Flower Ceremony
4.00pm: 1.competition run women and men
6.00pm: 2.competition run women and men
afterwards Flower Ceremony
afterwards: Medal Ceremonies
All Photos Credit to: FIL/Sobe
Quick Note: Team Canada In the News
Just a quick note to pass on that Team Canada member John "Johnny Luge" Gibson made a cameo appearance in the Daily Herald Tribune newspaper yesterday. The DHT as it's known locally is based in Grande Prairie Alberta, Canada.
The photo provided by the FIL was posted to Luge News on Sunday and it still appears on the paper's website here.
Hey Luge Lovers, here's an idea; click on that link above to visit the paper a couple of times. They should see the "hits" the page is getting and maybe, just maybe it will encourage them to expand their coverage of the sport! It certainly couldn't hurt anyway.
The photo provided by the FIL was posted to Luge News on Sunday and it still appears on the paper's website here.
Hey Luge Lovers, here's an idea; click on that link above to visit the paper a couple of times. They should see the "hits" the page is getting and maybe, just maybe it will encourage them to expand their coverage of the sport! It certainly couldn't hurt anyway.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Coach's Corner - A Look Back
We asked Team Canada coach Keith Simmons if he could give us a little bit of an inside look at the last two FIL World Cup events (look at the athlete's impressions of those races here and here) and he was more than happy to oblige. Keith isn't travelling with the team this year so he asked the Canadians to send along their "track/set-up/performance impressions" after each event so he could read into the final results and give us a coach's perspective on what's been happening and why. Here's what Keith had to say:
Umhausen
From what I remember of the track the bottom section is the deciding factor for fast run times. The top consisting of a slightly technical combination, followed by textbook switchbacks, but the bottom (likely 500+ meters) with very long straights with a really tight 180 in the middle of it all makes or breaks the race. Hometrack advantage goes to Kammerlander with the right set-up to gain enough advantage in the first run to offset mistakes on the second, leaving the rest of the field battling for second.
Our Canucks – Of course Greg was out of this one due to an ankle injury from training. The first run shows good set-up selection and mental space for the tight 180 in the bottom part of the track. The second run, after the track having to endure a lot of racing without as much time to repair left Kaj and John (and others including the bronze winner Robert Batkowski) hoping for good braking and a subsequent decent line through the tight deciding 180 corner. Looks like the track took more advantage of Kaj.
Unterammergau
I don’t remember this being a very technical track, but fast, flowing, longish straights. Weather an issue as training was very slow due to rain, but a least cold on singles day for harder ice.
Pigneter showing once again that his secrets are better than anybody else, so an over view of the rest of the leaders – nothing to see here – move along; having not been there the results indicate the remainder of the top guys had a really rough time adjusting to the track being harder for the race.
Canucks – thanks Kaj, for showing that the program is beginning to pay off. Canada has been in what I call the second tier (ie not competitive with the top Austrians and Italians – YET!) and Kaj posting a finish at the top of some very fast Germans is testament. Greg comes off injury and this track plays to Greg’s strength of being a “natural/visceral” driver – and the results show. Johnny on the other hand likes to take his time in Europe as an opportunity to get his annual cold in – it’s an amazing thing to watch the living dead start a race. If you haven’t experienced this don’t worry there will be more chances – it’s tradition, he does this almost every year – so Johnny should back on form for Deutschnofen.
Umhausen
From what I remember of the track the bottom section is the deciding factor for fast run times. The top consisting of a slightly technical combination, followed by textbook switchbacks, but the bottom (likely 500+ meters) with very long straights with a really tight 180 in the middle of it all makes or breaks the race. Hometrack advantage goes to Kammerlander with the right set-up to gain enough advantage in the first run to offset mistakes on the second, leaving the rest of the field battling for second.Our Canucks – Of course Greg was out of this one due to an ankle injury from training. The first run shows good set-up selection and mental space for the tight 180 in the bottom part of the track. The second run, after the track having to endure a lot of racing without as much time to repair left Kaj and John (and others including the bronze winner Robert Batkowski) hoping for good braking and a subsequent decent line through the tight deciding 180 corner. Looks like the track took more advantage of Kaj.
Unterammergau
I don’t remember this being a very technical track, but fast, flowing, longish straights. Weather an issue as training was very slow due to rain, but a least cold on singles day for harder ice.
Pigneter showing once again that his secrets are better than anybody else, so an over view of the rest of the leaders – nothing to see here – move along; having not been there the results indicate the remainder of the top guys had a really rough time adjusting to the track being harder for the race.
Canucks – thanks Kaj, for showing that the program is beginning to pay off. Canada has been in what I call the second tier (ie not competitive with the top Austrians and Italians – YET!) and Kaj posting a finish at the top of some very fast Germans is testament. Greg comes off injury and this track plays to Greg’s strength of being a “natural/visceral” driver – and the results show. Johnny on the other hand likes to take his time in Europe as an opportunity to get his annual cold in – it’s an amazing thing to watch the living dead start a race. If you haven’t experienced this don’t worry there will be more chances – it’s tradition, he does this almost every year – so Johnny should back on form for Deutschnofen.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Natural Luge in the Olympics?
Fans of Natural Track have had their hopes dashed before but recent news suggests that the FIL hasn't given up on getting the sport in to the Olympics! As recently as the 2005 World Championships in Latsch (ITA) there was still hope the sport would make the cut for the 2010 games in Vancouver. Thanks to a helpful tip from one of our favourite Hintonites we can pass on that FIL president Josef Fendt has confirmed that the organization is working with the IOC - with the intent of getting the nod to include the sport in the 2018 Olympics:
"Fendt said that the next application will be for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, which will be awarded in 2011. Until then all the tasks requested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should be implemented."
2018 is a long time away but the the stars might just be aligning to have natural track in an Olympics before then:
"The 2012 Olympic Youth Games have been awarded to Innsbruck. In a mutual effort made by FIL, the Austrian Luge Federation, the luge federation of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, and the organizers of the 2012 Olympic Youth Games, it could be possible to already include natural track luge there."
Ok, ok ... It's not the Olympics but it is an Olympics and that's something fans and athletes should all be happy about. You can read the full story here.
2009 Natural Track World Cup #3 Unterammergau, Germany
Team Canada recaps the 3rd Natural Track World Cup event of 2009:
For the first day of training our hopes of sliding on hard cold ice were literally washed away as the weather in Unterammergau took a turn for the worse and poured rain all day. This caused the ice on the track to be very soft which resulted in slower speeds for the whole field. Knowing that Unterammergau is notoriously a very speedy track we were disappointed that we would not experience the full speeds on our first day of training. The highlight of the day was hitting the brakes in the finish area (which resembled a swimming pool) and having a tidal wave slow you to a soaking halt! Another training note: Greg and Kaj for the second time entered a World Cup race as a doubles team. The slushy conditions also made for a very wet, cold, and exhilarating doubles training run.
Saturday’s program featured the doubles race. Greg and Kaj had a very busy day with three doubles runs. They were feeling more and more confident with each run and claimed two personal victories. They were faster with every consecutive run and their two race runs were within three tenths of one another. Greg and Kaj are looking forward to more doubles training and racing and to learning more about the technique of doubles sliding.
Sunday was the main event: the Men’s Singles race. This week, the full crew of John Gibson, Greg Jones, and Kaj Johnson were entered to represent Canada. The day’s conditions were the first victory of the day; the temperatures were low and the ice was hard and fast. Unfortunately, John woke up feeling flu-like symptoms but pulled himself together enough to start in the race.
All three of us had our fastest runs on the track in our first race runs, something that we are always striving for. This had John placed in 21st, Greg in 20th, and Kaj in 14th position for the start of the second run. John was first up for the Canadians and had a slightly slower second run but maintained his 21st position. Greg was very consistent coming in only three tenths slower than his first run and moved into 19th position. Kaj was one of the few athletes in the field to have a faster second run than his first, which helped to propel him into 13th position in the final results. In the end, this race held many victories for the small Canadian contingent. For starters, both Greg and Kaj had their best ever World Cup finishes.
Secondly, Kaj’s start time for the second race run was the fastest in the whole field. And lastly, the fastest nation after the Italian and Austrian powerhouses was Canada. Astonishingly, these results were accomplished with no prior training on this track.
We leave Germany on an intense high. The next World Cup is in Deutchenhofen, Italy next weekend. We are hoping that this high will carry us to similar results there.
All for now,
The Canadian Natural Luge Team
For the first day of training our hopes of sliding on hard cold ice were literally washed away as the weather in Unterammergau took a turn for the worse and poured rain all day. This caused the ice on the track to be very soft which resulted in slower speeds for the whole field. Knowing that Unterammergau is notoriously a very speedy track we were disappointed that we would not experience the full speeds on our first day of training. The highlight of the day was hitting the brakes in the finish area (which resembled a swimming pool) and having a tidal wave slow you to a soaking halt! Another training note: Greg and Kaj for the second time entered a World Cup race as a doubles team. The slushy conditions also made for a very wet, cold, and exhilarating doubles training run.
Saturday’s program featured the doubles race. Greg and Kaj had a very busy day with three doubles runs. They were feeling more and more confident with each run and claimed two personal victories. They were faster with every consecutive run and their two race runs were within three tenths of one another. Greg and Kaj are looking forward to more doubles training and racing and to learning more about the technique of doubles sliding.Sunday was the main event: the Men’s Singles race. This week, the full crew of John Gibson, Greg Jones, and Kaj Johnson were entered to represent Canada. The day’s conditions were the first victory of the day; the temperatures were low and the ice was hard and fast. Unfortunately, John woke up feeling flu-like symptoms but pulled himself together enough to start in the race.
All three of us had our fastest runs on the track in our first race runs, something that we are always striving for. This had John placed in 21st, Greg in 20th, and Kaj in 14th position for the start of the second run. John was first up for the Canadians and had a slightly slower second run but maintained his 21st position. Greg was very consistent coming in only three tenths slower than his first run and moved into 19th position. Kaj was one of the few athletes in the field to have a faster second run than his first, which helped to propel him into 13th position in the final results. In the end, this race held many victories for the small Canadian contingent. For starters, both Greg and Kaj had their best ever World Cup finishes. 
Secondly, Kaj’s start time for the second race run was the fastest in the whole field. And lastly, the fastest nation after the Italian and Austrian powerhouses was Canada. Astonishingly, these results were accomplished with no prior training on this track.We leave Germany on an intense high. The next World Cup is in Deutchenhofen, Italy next weekend. We are hoping that this high will carry us to similar results there.
All for now,
The Canadian Natural Luge Team
Sunday, January 25, 2009
2009 FIL PEWO World Cup Standings (3/6 Races)
The FIL PEWO World Cup Standings as of Sunday January 25th, 2009
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA)_ Points Todate 300
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 240
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 225
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA)_ Points Todate 166
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA)_ Points Todate 165
6. Marlies WAGNER (AUT)_ Points Todate 156
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 146
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA)_ Points Todate 123
9. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 109
10. Katrin MLADEK (AUT)_ Points Todate 105
11. Irma KARISEK (BIH)_ Points Todate 100
12. Ludmila ASTRAMOVISH (RUS)_ Points Todate 88
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 232
2. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA)_ Points Todate 231
3. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 186
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 185
5. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT)_ Points Todate 184
6. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT)_ Points Todate 180
7. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA)_ Points Todate 151
8. Hannes CLARA (ITA)_ Points Todate 141
9. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA)_ Points Todate 139
10. Stefan GRUBER (ITA)_ Points Todate 102
11. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 92
12. Marcus GRAUSAM (GER)_ Points Todate 83
13. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 79
13. Georg MAURER (GER)_ Points Todate 79
17. Björn KIERSPEL (GER)_ Points Todate 69
20. Markus WICHAN (GER)_ Points Todate 53
25. John GIBSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 40
35. Greg JONES (CAN)_ Points Todate 22
Doubles
1. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA) _ Points Todate 270
2. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS)_ Points Todate 260
3. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 195
4. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL)_ Points Todate 190
5. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT)_ Points Todate 175
6. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA)_ Points Todate 161
7. Aleksandr EGEROV/Aleksandr POPOV (RUS)_ Points Todate 143
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 127
12. Kaj JOHNSON/Greg JONES (CAN)_ Points Todate 34
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA)_ Points Todate 300
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 240
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 225
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA)_ Points Todate 166
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA)_ Points Todate 165
6. Marlies WAGNER (AUT)_ Points Todate 156
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 146
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA)_ Points Todate 123
9. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 109
10. Katrin MLADEK (AUT)_ Points Todate 105
11. Irma KARISEK (BIH)_ Points Todate 100
12. Ludmila ASTRAMOVISH (RUS)_ Points Todate 88
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 232
2. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA)_ Points Todate 231
3. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 186
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 185
5. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT)_ Points Todate 184
6. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT)_ Points Todate 180
7. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA)_ Points Todate 151
8. Hannes CLARA (ITA)_ Points Todate 141
9. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA)_ Points Todate 139
10. Stefan GRUBER (ITA)_ Points Todate 102
11. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 92
12. Marcus GRAUSAM (GER)_ Points Todate 83
13. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 79
13. Georg MAURER (GER)_ Points Todate 79
17. Björn KIERSPEL (GER)_ Points Todate 69
20. Markus WICHAN (GER)_ Points Todate 53
25. John GIBSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 40
35. Greg JONES (CAN)_ Points Todate 22
Doubles
1. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA) _ Points Todate 270
2. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS)_ Points Todate 260
3. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 195
4. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL)_ Points Todate 190
5. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT)_ Points Todate 175
6. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA)_ Points Todate 161
7. Aleksandr EGEROV/Aleksandr POPOV (RUS)_ Points Todate 143
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 127
12. Kaj JOHNSON/Greg JONES (CAN)_ Points Todate 34
Canadians in Action - Photos from Unterammergau
With the action in Unterammergau just wrapping up I'm pleased to be able to pass on some pictures of our Canadian team in action, thanks to Chris Karl of the FIL. The FIL has an official photographer on duty at world cup events but as I understand it the contract only requires him to provide pictures of the top 3 finishers in each category, so to this point they haven't been any of the Canucks. After an inquiry Chris was nice enough to twist some arms and get us pictures of Kaj, John and Greg. Thanks Chris!
Greg Jones Finished in 19th Place - Photo Credit: FIL/Sobe
Kaj Johnson Continues to Race Well, Placed 13th - Photo Credit: FIL/Sobe
John Gibson (aka "Johnny Luge") Maintained His Placing From Last Race At 21st - Photo Credit: FIL/Sobe
Kaj & Greg Teamed Up For Doubles, Placed 11th - Photo Credit: FIL/Sobe
FIL PEWO World Cup - Unterammergau, Wrap Up
Press Information Sunday, January 25th, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd – 25th, Unterammergau (GER)
Third win for Gietl (ITA), Pigneter claims his first season win
Finally back on his reserved spot at top of the podium was Italy´s Patrick Pigneter: “I knew that I was in top form, I tuned a little bit of my equipment and apparently I did the right thing,” he said. He will have good memories of the little Bavarian town of Unterammergau after having won in both the mens singles and the doubles events.
More than happy was the reigning World Champion from Austria, Gernot Schwab, who placed second. At the start of the event even he had low expectations: “All my money I would have betted against me. In the training runs I crashed into the boards twice and I was 16th. But leading after the first run really made up for everything. I don´t mind that Patrick won and I finished second, I am happy.” Schwab works full time as a teacher. “I do not have any tracks close to home where I could test sleds. So I come to the World Cups and start testing here. I used different equipment in each run. This can be frustrating sometimes, but results like today make up for it.”
The young Austrian Thomas Schopf (19) finished third once again. In St. Sebastian earlier this season he had scored his first world cup podium.
„The basis for my win was the first run. I did not take any chances in the second run”, said Renate Gietl (ITA) who won her third consecutive race.
“I had a lot of respect here, this is a track where you have to be able to be aggressive, to control speed as well as race very smoothly. I am happy that I managed to combine all these requirements.”
The fastest time in the second run was achieved by Melanie Batkowski (AUT) who scored her best season result. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) was weakened by a flu needed a good second run to push her team mate Julia Vetlova off the podium and finish third.
Final Results:
Women (14):
1. Renate GIETL (ITA), 1:08,31(1), 1:08,85(2), 2:17,16
2. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:08,73(2), 1:08,80(1), 2:17,53
3. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:09,27(4), 1:09,14(3), 2:18,41
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA), 1:09,77(6), 1:09,30(4), 2:19,07
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA), 1:09,73(5), 1:09,38(5), 2:19,11
6. Julia VETLOVA (RUS), 1:09,23(3), 1:10,02(6), 2:19,25
7. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 2:21,19
8. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 2:21,98
9. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA), 2:24,33
10. Michaela MAURER (GER), 2:2:25,21
Men (36):
1. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA), 1:07,43(2), 1:07,43(1), 2:14,86
2. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT), 1:07,42(1), 1:07,65(2), 2:15,07
3. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:07,61(4), 1:07,88(4), 2:15,49
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:07,70(5), 1:07,85(3), 2:15,55
4. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1: 07,53(3), 1:08,02(5), 2:15,55
6. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:07,75(6), 1:08,03(6), 2:15,78
7. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 1:07,78(7), 1:08,51(10), 2:16,29
8. Stefan GRUBER (ITA), 1:08,02(8), 1:08,31(8), 2:16,33
9. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 2:16,45
10. Florian BATKOWSKI (AUT), 2:16,62
11. Rudi RESCH (ITA), 2:16,84
12. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 2:17,35
13. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN), 1:09,43(14), 1:09,06(14), 2:18,49
19. Greg JONES (CAN), 1:10,50(20), 1:10,79(19), 2:21,29
21. John GIBSON (CAN), 1:10,80(21), 1:11,22(21), 2:22,02
All Photos Credit of FIL/Sobe
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd – 25th, Unterammergau (GER)
Third win for Gietl (ITA), Pigneter claims his first season win
Finally back on his reserved spot at top of the podium was Italy´s Patrick Pigneter: “I knew that I was in top form, I tuned a little bit of my equipment and apparently I did the right thing,” he said. He will have good memories of the little Bavarian town of Unterammergau after having won in both the mens singles and the doubles events.More than happy was the reigning World Champion from Austria, Gernot Schwab, who placed second. At the start of the event even he had low expectations: “All my money I would have betted against me. In the training runs I crashed into the boards twice and I was 16th. But leading after the first run really made up for everything. I don´t mind that Patrick won and I finished second, I am happy.” Schwab works full time as a teacher. “I do not have any tracks close to home where I could test sleds. So I come to the World Cups and start testing here. I used different equipment in each run. This can be frustrating sometimes, but results like today make up for it.”
The young Austrian Thomas Schopf (19) finished third once again. In St. Sebastian earlier this season he had scored his first world cup podium.
„The basis for my win was the first run. I did not take any chances in the second run”, said Renate Gietl (ITA) who won her third consecutive race.“I had a lot of respect here, this is a track where you have to be able to be aggressive, to control speed as well as race very smoothly. I am happy that I managed to combine all these requirements.”
The fastest time in the second run was achieved by Melanie Batkowski (AUT) who scored her best season result. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) was weakened by a flu needed a good second run to push her team mate Julia Vetlova off the podium and finish third.
Final Results:
Women (14):1. Renate GIETL (ITA), 1:08,31(1), 1:08,85(2), 2:17,16
2. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:08,73(2), 1:08,80(1), 2:17,53
3. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:09,27(4), 1:09,14(3), 2:18,41
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA), 1:09,77(6), 1:09,30(4), 2:19,07
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA), 1:09,73(5), 1:09,38(5), 2:19,11
6. Julia VETLOVA (RUS), 1:09,23(3), 1:10,02(6), 2:19,25
7. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 2:21,19
8. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 2:21,98
9. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA), 2:24,33
10. Michaela MAURER (GER), 2:2:25,21
Men (36):1. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA), 1:07,43(2), 1:07,43(1), 2:14,86
2. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT), 1:07,42(1), 1:07,65(2), 2:15,07
3. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:07,61(4), 1:07,88(4), 2:15,49
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:07,70(5), 1:07,85(3), 2:15,55
4. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1: 07,53(3), 1:08,02(5), 2:15,55
6. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:07,75(6), 1:08,03(6), 2:15,78
7. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 1:07,78(7), 1:08,51(10), 2:16,29
8. Stefan GRUBER (ITA), 1:08,02(8), 1:08,31(8), 2:16,33
9. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 2:16,45
10. Florian BATKOWSKI (AUT), 2:16,62
11. Rudi RESCH (ITA), 2:16,84
12. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 2:17,35
13. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN), 1:09,43(14), 1:09,06(14), 2:18,49
19. Greg JONES (CAN), 1:10,50(20), 1:10,79(19), 2:21,29
21. John GIBSON (CAN), 1:10,80(21), 1:11,22(21), 2:22,02
All Photos Credit of FIL/Sobe
Saturday, January 24, 2009
2009 FIL PEWO World Cup, Unterammergau Day 1
Press Information Saturday, January 24th, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd – 25th 2009 in Unterammergau (GER)
Only those who were flexible enough and could adjust to constantly changing conditions had a chance to win the PEWO World Cup in Unterammergau. During the training runs a heavy storm was blowing and rain watered the track, it froze over night for the morning run and became a bit softer again for the second run. Even though they had problems with their sled, Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) were the team that could handle the situation best. “We have had a lot of bad luck this season,” said Pigneter, “in the first run once again one of our runners broke. Thank God we had enough replacement runners, sometimes last year we actually had only one.” Their win was the eighth of their career and put them in the lead in the overall PEWO World Cup.
Austria´s Christian and Andreas Schopf could celebrate their first podium finish in this constellation. After having lead after the first run, they finished second. “We tried a different sled for this race and it proved to be the right decision. Besides that, we like fast and spectacular tracks like this one here”, said Christian, the younger one of the brothers. Andreas, who is four years senior to Christian, can already look back at a successful career with his cousin Wolfgang. “Three years ago I started racing with my brother,” said Andreas. “We had to take a break last season as I could not find enough time, but now we are back and basically professional athletes.” Andreas is a student who can plan his time around training and Christian can fully concentrate on luge as he will join the military in March.
Christian Schatz/Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT) started to show signs of life for the first time this season and finished third. “We never ever worked as hard as we did this December and January and yet we did not perform too well. We were close to the top people, but never better than fifth,” said Mühlbacher. “But we did not give up and looked into everything again these past days and now I think we have made a huge step forward. We are still not in top shape, that´s why I am really proud that we did well yesterday and today, as the conditions were extremely different.”
The World Cup weekend will be continued with the single races tomorrow, Sunday, starting at 11am.
Final Results Doubles (11):
1. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA), 1:12,90(2), 1:11,98(1), 2:24,88
2. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:12,71(1), 1:12,84(2), 2:25,55
3. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT), 1:13,09(3), 1:12,92(3), 2:26,01
4. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS), 1:13,68(6), 1:12,99(4), 2:26,67
5. Aleksandr EGEROV/Petr POPOV (RUS), 1:13,59(5), 1:13,12(5), 2:26,71
6. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:13,32(4), 1:13,79(6), 2:27,11
11. Kaj JOHNSON/Greg JONES (CAN), 1:23,66(11), 1:23,35(11), 2:47,01
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd – 25th 2009 in Unterammergau (GER)
Pigneter/Clara back on top, first podiums for Austria
Pigneter/Clara (ITA) Photo Credits: FIL/Sobe
Only those who were flexible enough and could adjust to constantly changing conditions had a chance to win the PEWO World Cup in Unterammergau. During the training runs a heavy storm was blowing and rain watered the track, it froze over night for the morning run and became a bit softer again for the second run. Even though they had problems with their sled, Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) were the team that could handle the situation best. “We have had a lot of bad luck this season,” said Pigneter, “in the first run once again one of our runners broke. Thank God we had enough replacement runners, sometimes last year we actually had only one.” Their win was the eighth of their career and put them in the lead in the overall PEWO World Cup.
Austria´s Christian and Andreas Schopf could celebrate their first podium finish in this constellation. After having lead after the first run, they finished second. “We tried a different sled for this race and it proved to be the right decision. Besides that, we like fast and spectacular tracks like this one here”, said Christian, the younger one of the brothers. Andreas, who is four years senior to Christian, can already look back at a successful career with his cousin Wolfgang. “Three years ago I started racing with my brother,” said Andreas. “We had to take a break last season as I could not find enough time, but now we are back and basically professional athletes.” Andreas is a student who can plan his time around training and Christian can fully concentrate on luge as he will join the military in March.
Christian Schatz/Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT) started to show signs of life for the first time this season and finished third. “We never ever worked as hard as we did this December and January and yet we did not perform too well. We were close to the top people, but never better than fifth,” said Mühlbacher. “But we did not give up and looked into everything again these past days and now I think we have made a huge step forward. We are still not in top shape, that´s why I am really proud that we did well yesterday and today, as the conditions were extremely different.”
The World Cup weekend will be continued with the single races tomorrow, Sunday, starting at 11am.
Final Results Doubles (11):
1. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA), 1:12,90(2), 1:11,98(1), 2:24,88
2. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:12,71(1), 1:12,84(2), 2:25,55
3. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT), 1:13,09(3), 1:12,92(3), 2:26,01
4. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS), 1:13,68(6), 1:12,99(4), 2:26,67
5. Aleksandr EGEROV/Petr POPOV (RUS), 1:13,59(5), 1:13,12(5), 2:26,71
6. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:13,32(4), 1:13,79(6), 2:27,11
11. Kaj JOHNSON/Greg JONES (CAN), 1:23,66(11), 1:23,35(11), 2:47,01
Photo Credits: FIL/Sobe
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FIL PEWO World Cup - Unterammergau, Preview
FIL PEWO World Cup Natural Track
Press Information, Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd - 25th, Unterammergau (GER)
After Four Years World Cup returns to Germany
It has been a while since the last Luge World Cup has been held in Germany, January 2005 to be precise. Among the current crop of star sliders only Renate Gietl (ITA) has ever experienced the feeling of winning in the Bavarian village. She has won the race four years ago.
On the men's side, both of the World Cups ever held in Unterammergau, have been won by Anton Blasbichler (ITA). The two time World Champion is still a constant member of the Italian team, but has not won a race in four years. None of the currently active doubles teams have ever finished top three in Unterammergau.
In addition to women's perennial favourites, Renate Gietl and Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) the shooting star of the season, Gerald Kammerlander will be one of the hunted after his recent win in Umhausen. And, of course, the German team under the guidance of Gerhard Pilz hopes to be able to use the benefit of competing on home soil to it's advantage
.
Training runs will be held on Friday and Saturday morning, the competition will start on Saturday at 11:30am
Unterammergau Track Info:
Length of track: 1100 meters
Width: 3 meters
Altitude of Start: 999 m above sea level
Altitude of Finish: 834 m
Difference between start and finish: 165 m
Average descent: 15%
Program:
Friday, 23.1.2009:
12.00pm: Team Captain´s Meeting
1.30pm: 1.Training run women and men
2.30pm: 1.Training run doubles
7pm: Opening Ceremony
Saturday, 24.1.2009:
10.00am: 2.Trainings run doubles
afterward 2. training run women
11.30am: 1.competition run doubles
1.00pm: 2.competition run doubles
afterwards Flower Ceremony
2.00pm: 2. training run men
Sunday, 25.1.2009:
11.00am: 1.competition run women and men
1.00pm: 2.competition run women and men
afterwards Flower Ceremony
3.00pm: Medal Ceremonies
Press Information, Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 23rd - 25th, Unterammergau (GER)
After Four Years World Cup returns to Germany
It has been a while since the last Luge World Cup has been held in Germany, January 2005 to be precise. Among the current crop of star sliders only Renate Gietl (ITA) has ever experienced the feeling of winning in the Bavarian village. She has won the race four years ago.
On the men's side, both of the World Cups ever held in Unterammergau, have been won by Anton Blasbichler (ITA). The two time World Champion is still a constant member of the Italian team, but has not won a race in four years. None of the currently active doubles teams have ever finished top three in Unterammergau.
In addition to women's perennial favourites, Renate Gietl and Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) the shooting star of the season, Gerald Kammerlander will be one of the hunted after his recent win in Umhausen. And, of course, the German team under the guidance of Gerhard Pilz hopes to be able to use the benefit of competing on home soil to it's advantage
.
Training runs will be held on Friday and Saturday morning, the competition will start on Saturday at 11:30am
Unterammergau Track Info:
Length of track: 1100 meters
Width: 3 meters
Altitude of Start: 999 m above sea level
Altitude of Finish: 834 m
Difference between start and finish: 165 m
Average descent: 15%
Program:
Friday, 23.1.2009:
12.00pm: Team Captain´s Meeting
1.30pm: 1.Training run women and men
2.30pm: 1.Training run doubles
7pm: Opening Ceremony
Saturday, 24.1.2009:
10.00am: 2.Trainings run doubles
afterward 2. training run women
11.30am: 1.competition run doubles
1.00pm: 2.competition run doubles
afterwards Flower Ceremony
2.00pm: 2. training run men
Sunday, 25.1.2009:
11.00am: 1.competition run women and men
1.00pm: 2.competition run women and men
afterwards Flower Ceremony
3.00pm: Medal Ceremonies
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Welcome to Luge News
Welcome to the initial posting of the Luge News blog!
The blog was created to help expand the exposure of the Canadian Natural Track Luge team. Over time you'll see regular updates from our Canadian athletes as they train and eventually compete on the FIL world cup circuit.
For those not familiar with Natural Track Luge, This is a unique and exciting sport that demands keen body control, sharp wits and willingness to walk the line between speed and disaster. Tracks contain none of the high banking corners or tubes that you see in artificial track luge or bobsleigh. Athletes rely on skill alone to safely navigate the twists and turns of the 4 metre wide track, which is about a kilometre long and resembles a switch back mountain road flooded with a foot of ice from top to bottom.
The sled is steered down the course by the athlete applying pressure to the runners on the bottom of the sled and pulling a rein to provide added steering control. The runners have sharp blades, similar to a hockey skate, to carve the ice – making for a fast and exciting run down the track where top sliders can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/hour.
Of course as the title suggests we're open to luge news from anywhere. Whatever your flavour, Olympic, Naturbahn or Street whoever you are with; Local Clubs or National Teams or even if you are just a Fan - if you have a tip, a story or an event that you'd like to feature send it in!
Safe sliding, and go Canada!
The blog was created to help expand the exposure of the Canadian Natural Track Luge team. Over time you'll see regular updates from our Canadian athletes as they train and eventually compete on the FIL world cup circuit.
For those not familiar with Natural Track Luge, This is a unique and exciting sport that demands keen body control, sharp wits and willingness to walk the line between speed and disaster. Tracks contain none of the high banking corners or tubes that you see in artificial track luge or bobsleigh. Athletes rely on skill alone to safely navigate the twists and turns of the 4 metre wide track, which is about a kilometre long and resembles a switch back mountain road flooded with a foot of ice from top to bottom.
The sled is steered down the course by the athlete applying pressure to the runners on the bottom of the sled and pulling a rein to provide added steering control. The runners have sharp blades, similar to a hockey skate, to carve the ice – making for a fast and exciting run down the track where top sliders can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/hour.
Of course as the title suggests we're open to luge news from anywhere. Whatever your flavour, Olympic, Naturbahn or Street whoever you are with; Local Clubs or National Teams or even if you are just a Fan - if you have a tip, a story or an event that you'd like to feature send it in!
Safe sliding, and go Canada!
Monday, January 19, 2009
2009 Natural Track World Cup #2 Umhausen, Austria
After competing in the first World Cup event of the year as a team of one Kaj was happy to be joined by his two teammates, John Gibson and Greg Jones, this week. The team began with a few days of training at the host track of the upcoming World Championships in Passeier, Italy.
During training Greg Jones suffered a minor crash which resulted in a bruised heel and sprained ankle. After examination it was revealed that the injury would sideline him for the upcoming race in Umhausen, Austria. Kaj and John on the other hand, were healthy and well felt prepared.
Umhausen would be the first night race of the season which always presents difficulties for athletes as they work to stay mentally focused well into the evening. So, after a full day of waiting and watching, Kaj and John prepared for their evening runs which left them in positions 18th and 16th respectively.
On the second day of racing Kaj and John's runs didn't come until late in the day. After a full day's sliding the track’s breaking areas had deteriorated which caused Kaj and John minor grief for their final runs. John moved to 21st position and Kaj to fell to 17th. They were obviously slightly disappointed with their fall in the standings but hope to build on the good points from the race.
Greg was ready to continue training as of, Janurary 19th and the team is now looking forward to the next stop on the World Cup circuit, Unteramergau Germany.
During training Greg Jones suffered a minor crash which resulted in a bruised heel and sprained ankle. After examination it was revealed that the injury would sideline him for the upcoming race in Umhausen, Austria. Kaj and John on the other hand, were healthy and well felt prepared.Umhausen would be the first night race of the season which always presents difficulties for athletes as they work to stay mentally focused well into the evening. So, after a full day of waiting and watching, Kaj and John prepared for their evening runs which left them in positions 18th and 16th respectively.
On the second day of racing Kaj and John's runs didn't come until late in the day. After a full day's sliding the track’s breaking areas had deteriorated which caused Kaj and John minor grief for their final runs. John moved to 21st position and Kaj to fell to 17th. They were obviously slightly disappointed with their fall in the standings but hope to build on the good points from the race. Greg was ready to continue training as of, Janurary 19th and the team is now looking forward to the next stop on the World Cup circuit, Unteramergau Germany.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
2009 FIL PEWO World Cup Standings (2/6 Races)
The FIL PEWO World Cup Standings as of Saturday January 17th, 2009
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA)_ Points Todate 200
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 170
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 140
4. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA) _ Points Todate 110
4. Marlies WAGNER (AUT)_ Points Todate 110
6. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA)_ Points Todate 106
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 96
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA)_ Points Todate 84
9. Katrin MLADEK (AUT)_ Points Todate 71
10. Irma KARISIK (BIH) _ Points Todate 68
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 200
2. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT)_ Points Todate 134
3. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA)_ Points Todate 131
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 125
5. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 116
6. Hannes CLARA (ITA)_ Points Todate 102
7. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT)_ Points Todate 99
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 92
9. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA)_ Points Todate 91
10. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA)_ Points Todate 89
11. Stefan GRUBER (ITA)_ Points Todate 60
12. Marcus GRAUSAM (GER)_ Points Todate 57
16. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 49
32. John GIBSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 20
Doubles:
1. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS)_ Points Todate 200
2. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA) _ Points Todate 170
3. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL)_ Points Todate 140
4. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA)_ Points Todate 115
5. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 110
6. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT)_ Points Todate 105
7. Aleksandr EGEROV/Aleksandr POPOV (RUS)_ Points Todate 88
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 85
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA)_ Points Todate 200
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 170
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 140
4. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA) _ Points Todate 110
4. Marlies WAGNER (AUT)_ Points Todate 110
6. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA)_ Points Todate 106
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS)_ Points Todate 96
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA)_ Points Todate 84
9. Katrin MLADEK (AUT)_ Points Todate 71
10. Irma KARISIK (BIH) _ Points Todate 68
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 200
2. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT)_ Points Todate 134
3. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA)_ Points Todate 131
4. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT)_ Points Todate 125
5. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 116
6. Hannes CLARA (ITA)_ Points Todate 102
7. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT)_ Points Todate 99
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT)_ Points Todate 92
9. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA)_ Points Todate 91
10. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA)_ Points Todate 89
11. Stefan GRUBER (ITA)_ Points Todate 60
12. Marcus GRAUSAM (GER)_ Points Todate 57
16. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 49
32. John GIBSON (CAN)_ Points Todate 20
Doubles:
1. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS)_ Points Todate 200
2. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA) _ Points Todate 170
3. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL)_ Points Todate 140
4. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA)_ Points Todate 115
5. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT)_ Points Todate 110
6. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT)_ Points Todate 105
7. Aleksandr EGEROV/Aleksandr POPOV (RUS)_ Points Todate 88
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT)_ Points Todate 85
FIL PEWO World Cup - Umhausen, Media Release
FIL PEWO World Cup Natural Track
Press Information, Saturday, January 17th, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 17th /18th, Umhausen (AUT)
Kammerlander (AUT) wins home race
With a track record in his first run and the second best time in the second run, local hero Thomas Kammerlander showed that currently he is the man to beat. “I don´t know what changed from last year to now, I think I am taking a higher risk, maybe I was holding back too much in the past years”, said the young Austrian, who joined the military last spring. “My equipment is really perfect, I make less mistakes than in the last years and everything is going just very, very well.” He will need a top-three result in the overall world cup or a medal in the World Championships to maintain his position in the military. Currently he is the only natural track luge athlete who has been approved as a full time athlete soldier.
Runner up Patrick Pigneter (ITA) proved with the fastest time in the second run, that he has fully recovered from last week´s crash. “I ruined my sled in this crash and I could not try a new one, because I had too much pain until yesterday. So I used my very old one for the second run”, he said.
European Champion Robert Batkowski showed with his third place, that he is always good for a surprise. “I am satisfied with the result, but the time gaps are still too big. I will have to analyse that and see where the problem is.”
In the women´s event Renate Gietl (ITA) and Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) switched roles from last year to this year. Whereas the Russian shocked her competitors with one track record after the other and Gietl could reach the same time now and then, it is just the other way round in this winter: Renate Gietl seems to be the one who can produce one fastest run after the other. “I do not even know what exactly has changed”, she said. “My equipment is really perfect and I just feel in good shape and really strong.” So Gietl won once again and Lavrentjeva had to settle for second, just like one week ago. With a good second run Melanie Batkowski could improve her ranking and took the third spot on the podium. She was still a little handicapped by a knee injury suffered in St Sebastian, but hopes to be fully fit next week in Germany.
With a “fantastic first run, no risk in the second run” the Russian double Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev secured their second win in the second race. With them coming first, Pigneter/Clara and Laszczak/Waniczek second and third, the exact same result of last week was repeated. Patrick Pigneter (ITA) thinks that he and Florian Clara are ready to win again: “In our first run the runners did not work at all, so we changed everything and now I believe that our sled is really fast again”, he said, but he also knows that he has been lucky today: “We had a very critical moment in the second run, where we almost came to a halt, but then we managed to go full speed in the final part of the track.” He has fully recovered from his crash last week: “I did have some pain in my chest yesterday, but today I was fine.”
Poland´s Andrzej Laszczak/Damian Waniczek finished third and any podium result is a good result for them – it was their 23rd career podium finish today. “We tried a lot of different things in the training and now I think I have found the fastest setting for this technically challenging track”, he said. “But next week in Germany everything will be different again. At the last world cup race there, four years ago, it was extremely warm. We will have to see how the conditions are this year.”
Final Results:
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA), 1:13,63(1), 1:13,92(1), 2:27,55
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:14,00(2), 1.14,19(2), 2:28,19
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:15,04(4), 1:14,26(3), 2:29,30
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA), 1:14,73(3), 1:15,39(6), 2:30,12
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA), 1:15,24(5), 1:15,21(4), 2:30,45
6. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 1:15,35(6), 1:15,26(5), 2:30,61
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS), 1:15,45(8), 1:15,58(7), 2:31,03
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA), 1:15,37(7), 1:15,79(8), 2:31,16
9. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 1:15,82(9), 1:16,17(9), 2:31,99
10. Michaela MAURER (GER), 1:16,95(10), 1:17,06(11), 2:34,01
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 1:12,39(1), 1:13,08(2), 2:25,47
2. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA), 1:12,81(2), 1:12,78(1), 2:25,59
3. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:12,83(3), 1:13,63(8), 2:26,46
4. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 1:13,08(4), 1:13,46(5), 2:26,54
5. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1:13,29(7), 1:13,40(4), 2:26,69
6. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:13,18(5), 1:13,68(10), 2:26,86
7. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:13,25(6), 1:13,64(9), 2:26,89
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 1:13,36(8), 1:13,54(6), 2:26,90
9. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT), 2:27,29
10. Rudi RESCH (ITA), 2:27,40
11. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 2:28,14
12. Ziga PAGON (SLO), 2:28,53
17. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN), 2:29,66
21. John GIBSON (CAN), 2:30,88
Doubles:
1. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS), 1:17,10(1), 1:17,62(2), 2:34,72
2. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA), 1:17,66(3), 2:35,02
3. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:17,62(2), 1:17,95(4), 2:35,57
4. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA), 1:18,30(7), 1.17,62(2), 2:35,92
5. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT), 1:18,18(6), 1:17,98(5), 2:36,16
6. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:18,17(5), 1:18,15(7), 2:36,32
7. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT), 2:36,43
8. Aleksandr EGOROV/Petr POPOV (RUS), 2:36,70
Press Information, Saturday, January 17th, 2009
PEWO World Cup/January 17th /18th, Umhausen (AUT)
Kammerlander (AUT) wins home race
Thomas Kammerlander - photo credit: FIL/Sobe
With a track record in his first run and the second best time in the second run, local hero Thomas Kammerlander showed that currently he is the man to beat. “I don´t know what changed from last year to now, I think I am taking a higher risk, maybe I was holding back too much in the past years”, said the young Austrian, who joined the military last spring. “My equipment is really perfect, I make less mistakes than in the last years and everything is going just very, very well.” He will need a top-three result in the overall world cup or a medal in the World Championships to maintain his position in the military. Currently he is the only natural track luge athlete who has been approved as a full time athlete soldier.
Runner up Patrick Pigneter (ITA) proved with the fastest time in the second run, that he has fully recovered from last week´s crash. “I ruined my sled in this crash and I could not try a new one, because I had too much pain until yesterday. So I used my very old one for the second run”, he said.
European Champion Robert Batkowski showed with his third place, that he is always good for a surprise. “I am satisfied with the result, but the time gaps are still too big. I will have to analyse that and see where the problem is.”
In the women´s event Renate Gietl (ITA) and Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) switched roles from last year to this year. Whereas the Russian shocked her competitors with one track record after the other and Gietl could reach the same time now and then, it is just the other way round in this winter: Renate Gietl seems to be the one who can produce one fastest run after the other. “I do not even know what exactly has changed”, she said. “My equipment is really perfect and I just feel in good shape and really strong.” So Gietl won once again and Lavrentjeva had to settle for second, just like one week ago. With a good second run Melanie Batkowski could improve her ranking and took the third spot on the podium. She was still a little handicapped by a knee injury suffered in St Sebastian, but hopes to be fully fit next week in Germany.
With a “fantastic first run, no risk in the second run” the Russian double Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev secured their second win in the second race. With them coming first, Pigneter/Clara and Laszczak/Waniczek second and third, the exact same result of last week was repeated. Patrick Pigneter (ITA) thinks that he and Florian Clara are ready to win again: “In our first run the runners did not work at all, so we changed everything and now I believe that our sled is really fast again”, he said, but he also knows that he has been lucky today: “We had a very critical moment in the second run, where we almost came to a halt, but then we managed to go full speed in the final part of the track.” He has fully recovered from his crash last week: “I did have some pain in my chest yesterday, but today I was fine.”
Poland´s Andrzej Laszczak/Damian Waniczek finished third and any podium result is a good result for them – it was their 23rd career podium finish today. “We tried a lot of different things in the training and now I think I have found the fastest setting for this technically challenging track”, he said. “But next week in Germany everything will be different again. At the last world cup race there, four years ago, it was extremely warm. We will have to see how the conditions are this year.”
Final Results:
Women:
1. Renate GIETL (ITA), 1:13,63(1), 1:13,92(1), 2:27,55
2. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:14,00(2), 1.14,19(2), 2:28,19
3. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:15,04(4), 1:14,26(3), 2:29,30
4. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA), 1:14,73(3), 1:15,39(6), 2:30,12
5. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA), 1:15,24(5), 1:15,21(4), 2:30,45
6. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 1:15,35(6), 1:15,26(5), 2:30,61
7. Julia VETLOVA (RUS), 1:15,45(8), 1:15,58(7), 2:31,03
8. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA), 1:15,37(7), 1:15,79(8), 2:31,16
9. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 1:15,82(9), 1:16,17(9), 2:31,99
10. Michaela MAURER (GER), 1:16,95(10), 1:17,06(11), 2:34,01
Men:
1. Gerald KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 1:12,39(1), 1:13,08(2), 2:25,47
2. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA), 1:12,81(2), 1:12,78(1), 2:25,59
3. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:12,83(3), 1:13,63(8), 2:26,46
4. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 1:13,08(4), 1:13,46(5), 2:26,54
5. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1:13,29(7), 1:13,40(4), 2:26,69
6. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:13,18(5), 1:13,68(10), 2:26,86
7. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:13,25(6), 1:13,64(9), 2:26,89
8. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 1:13,36(8), 1:13,54(6), 2:26,90
9. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT), 2:27,29
10. Rudi RESCH (ITA), 2:27,40
11. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 2:28,14
12. Ziga PAGON (SLO), 2:28,53
17. Kaj JOHNSON (CAN), 2:29,66
21. John GIBSON (CAN), 2:30,88
Doubles:
1. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS), 1:17,10(1), 1:17,62(2), 2:34,72
2. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA), 1:17,66(3), 2:35,02
3. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:17,62(2), 1:17,95(4), 2:35,57
4. Thomas WEISS/Andreas LEITER (ITA), 1:18,30(7), 1.17,62(2), 2:35,92
5. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT), 1:18,18(6), 1:17,98(5), 2:36,16
6. Christian SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:18,17(5), 1:18,15(7), 2:36,32
7. Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT), 2:36,43
8. Aleksandr EGOROV/Petr POPOV (RUS), 2:36,70
Friday, January 9, 2009
2009 Natural Track World Cup #1 St. Sebastian, Austria
Prior to heading over to Europe for the start of the 2009 World Cup season, the Canadian team found themselves in the enviable situation of training domestically. It had been a few years since the team last had the privilege of having a track in Canada to train on before the beginning of the season. Normally the Canadian athletes have to travel to Europe early to work in just a few days of practice before starting the competition season. This year however the track in Grande Prairie was up and iced in mid December which provided the team with two weeks of solid training.
The competitive season began with a World Cup race in St. Sebastian, Austria. Only one Canadian athlete, Kaj Johnson, was able to be in Europe in time to compete in this race. This was Kaj's first time seeing this particular track and he was impressed with it's technical design. Luckily, he was able to land a couple training runs to get accustomed to the new track before the weekend of the race.
After sliding the track a few time through training, Kaj had a few concerns regarding the last chicane before the finish. It was a very fast section and he figured it would be a location of focus for many athletes during the race.
The race began well for Kaj and he posted a time fast enough to leave him sitting in 15th position after the first run. However, as he had suspected the final chicane presented some minor problems for him and many other athletes on the second run and he unfortunately fell behind one place to finish the race at 16th in the final standings. Regardless, this was Kaj’s best World Cup finish to date.
The competitive season began with a World Cup race in St. Sebastian, Austria. Only one Canadian athlete, Kaj Johnson, was able to be in Europe in time to compete in this race. This was Kaj's first time seeing this particular track and he was impressed with it's technical design. Luckily, he was able to land a couple training runs to get accustomed to the new track before the weekend of the race. After sliding the track a few time through training, Kaj had a few concerns regarding the last chicane before the finish. It was a very fast section and he figured it would be a location of focus for many athletes during the race.
The race began well for Kaj and he posted a time fast enough to leave him sitting in 15th position after the first run. However, as he had suspected the final chicane presented some minor problems for him and many other athletes on the second run and he unfortunately fell behind one place to finish the race at 16th in the final standings. Regardless, this was Kaj’s best World Cup finish to date.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
