Hard work on ice: South Tyrol's lugers and the "big plus"

Between September 29 and October 6, South Tyrol's luge elite headed to the far north, where they fine-tuned their shape and materials for the first time in the Lillehammer ice track. After the focus in the preceding weeks had been primarily on dry-weather training and technical sessions, which were completed in the ice stadiums in Brixen and Neumarkt, among others, the team now returned to familiar terrain.

“The past few months have been intense, so it was great to finally be able to get back on the toboggan,” Andrea Vötter explained in an interview with the Dolomites However, going full throttle wasn't on the agenda for this training camp; the primary focus was on getting used to it. "There were a few changes to our sled, so we had to get used to it and see how it handles," notes the Fiè native, who has been making a splash in doubles with Marion Oberhofer from Rodeneck since the 2022/23 season.

Olympic track a “big plus” This should also be the case at the 2026 Olympic Games, for which the foundation is now being laid. As of today, Vötter, Oberhofer, and Co. are very close to their dream of winning an Olympic medal – at least from a geographical point of view. Until the end of October, the "Azzurri" will be completing a training camp in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the very ice track where history will be made in February 2026. Or, in other words, in their ice track.

The Olympic track in Cortina d'Ampezzo. © manazproductions / manazproductions

"The upcoming training sessions are an additional benefit our athletes will receive before the Winter Games. That's a huge plus," says Armin Zöggeler, racing director of the Italian Luge Federation, emphasizing the importance of the training camp on our own ice. Specific preparation, extensive equipment testing on the Olympic track – this wouldn't otherwise be possible on this scale. "If we continue this scenario, it will also be a significant addition to our preparation for future winters."

Luge athletes rely on simulator For the first time since the track was homologated in the spring, the lugers are returning to Cortina, where further construction work has been completed since then. "The roof is up, the awnings are in place, timing, traffic lights, and safety precautions – all of that is in place," explains the two-time Olympic champion. "A few things still need to be finished around the outside, like the start houses. But for us, it's important right now that we can get onto the ice and test the track." “This gives us the opportunity to simulate a journey as often as we like – like in a video game.” Armin Zöggeler Aside from the test runs a few months ago, the athletes aren't starting from scratch when it comes to the track layout. With the help of a simulator, Vötter and his team were able to closely examine the Cortina ice track on screen this summer. "This gives us the opportunity to simulate a run as many times as we like – like in a video game," says Zöggeler. "We did resort to it in the summer, but you have to keep in mind: You still learn the most on the ice – as will be the case in the coming days. However, thanks to the simulator, all the athletes are well prepared and know the track inside and out."

International test phase in Cortina But South Tyrol's lugers aren't completely alone on the track. Between October 27 and November 4, and a second period from November 24 to 30, a test phase organized by the International Luge Federation (FIL) will take place in Cortina, culminating in a test competition. "The rumors start to circulate during the training runs," says Zöggeler. "However, only within their own group – because the nations are divided into different training groups."

For example, Austria trains during the same part of the day as Sweden, "and our athletes train alongside Latvia," explains Zöggeler. "This allows for an initial comparison with their direct competitors. With the other groups, however, the results are hardly comparable: the different times, temperatures, and even humidity levels make this difficult." Nevertheless, the experiences are certainly valuable—and a first taste of what's to come.

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Hard work on ice: South Tyrol's lugers and the "big plus"

After a long summer, the artificial track lugers are back in their element. Andrea Vötter, Marion Oberhofer, and co. are off to Cortina d'Ampezzo for their first training sessions on ice in Lillehammer, Norway.

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