Nothing is impossible for two young skating pros.

When a challenge looms, sometimes looking back helps. "I used to be such a small-minded guy, now I've got a few more muscles," Gufler recalls with a smile, thinking back to his World Cup debut five years ago in Igls near Innsbruck. "I'm especially proud of my mental development." Focus and intuition are a major asset – whether in competition mode or during preparation. The latter went smoothly for the 23-year-old. "What I did differently this year was simply switch off and go on vacation without thinking about sports," Gufler explains. He spent ten days relaxing in Malta with a friend, then got back to training. His big goal – as is typical this winter – is the Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Gufler is well aware that things don't always go according to plan. "For me, every race is a new opportunity where I want to give 100 percent," he emphasizes. Burying his head in the sand after setbacks? Gufler doesn't know the meaning of the word. "Just put it behind you and move on – that's how you approach things with joy. I'm still young and have big plans. There's no need to overthink things just yet." Peccei and his teacher Fischnaller Alongside Gufler, the team includes another up-and-coming young talent, Lukas Peccei, who experienced a special moment three years ago – in December 2022. "When I think about the Nations Cup, only one word comes to mind: Cool!" the 21-year-old recalls of his first steps among the elite of luge. Three years ago, he finished in 14th place – a lot has happened since then. His first World Cup appearances followed, where he established himself as a consistent point scorer. The Val Badia native has had some issues with his starts in recent years, "but this year it's going much better," he assures us. However, consistency still leaves something to be desired. "Luge is a sport that requires experience; the more you race, the better your performance becomes," Peccei emphasizes. "I can learn a lot from Dominik. We're colleagues now, so we sometimes exchange ideas in our rooms." Luke Peccei With Dominik Fischnaller, he has the perfect mentor. "I can learn a lot from Dominik. We're colleagues now, so we sometimes exchange ideas in our rooms," he says. Continuous development is very important to Peccei – but dreams are essential in professional sports. "The Olympic Games would be a great goal, of course," says the youngster, who lives just a stone's throw from the ice track in Cortina d'Ampezzo via the Falzarego Pass. "That will be difficult – but nothing is impossible."

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Nothing is impossible for two young skating pros.

Many athletes feel nervous before the Olympic winter. Not so Alex Gufler, who was able to switch off during the summer. Lukas Peccei, meanwhile, wants to kick off an unforgettable season.

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