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