Simon Kainzwaldner and Emanuel Rieder take their happiness into their own hands.

Rieder/Kainzwaldner and a special Olympic project

The Olympics are every athlete's ultimate goal. Physical and mental strength alone aren't enough to win medals – the equipment must also be technically at the highest level. Lugers Simon Kainzwaldner and Emanuel Rieder have now taken their luck into their own hands – they're building their own sled.

June 11, 2025

From: pm/dl

Two athletes, two biographies – one common goal. The two lugers, 31-year-old Simon Kainzwaldner from Villanders and 31-year-old Emanuel Rieder from Maranza, have been racing together in doubles since 2018 and have competed on ice tracks around the world. They have a vice-world championship title to their credit, as well as a 5th-place finish at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. They are united not only by their love of this sport, but also by a deep understanding of the sport itself and their unconditional will to give their all. Four years ago, their greatest personal dream came true: competing in the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Physically, they were in top shape, mentally on point, and thus more than ready to live their sporting dream. "When we sat at the starting line, we knew: This is the pinnacle of our careers, the goal of our sporting dreams. And yet we only managed 5th place," says Simon Kainzwaldner. At that moment, we decided: Next time, we'll optimize our sports equipment to get the best out of it and be able to compete with the world's best."

The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are now just around the corner – on their doorstep, if you think about it. An Olympics "at home" – what more could an athlete want? It was clear to both athletes: We have to get to work, get back on our feet early enough, and take our destiny into our own hands. They have been building their perfect Olympic toboggan for the competitions in Cortina for months now. "We are planning, developing, collaborating with companies, gathering ideas, and investing a great deal of time in this vital sporting instrument for us," says Rieder. The two athletes have already secured several partners from the local business community: WF Mechanik in Vahrn supports them with metal and mechanical engineering, 3DWooD in Val Gardena is helping with the complex 3D shapes, and Transbozen is not only the duo's main sponsor but also their contact for logistics. The network is complemented by the Dolomiti Sportclinic, which keeps the athletes' physical condition under control. In order to stay up to date in the areas of accounting and business management, the two professional athletes recently successfully completed the “Great Season” training program run by South Tyrolean Sports Aid.

Know-how alone is not enough

"To build a perfect toboggan, we need between 45.000 and 50.000 euros," says Kainzwaldner. Drawing on their own experience and the know-how of former service technicians, they are building their own toboggan piece by piece – always with the goal of creating the best possible piece of sports equipment. Heart and soul are poured into this project, which they are building with their own hands. Kainzwaldner is a trained carpenter – he lends a hand himself. "It's worth it to us. It's our dream – and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Kainzwaldner. There are only a few months left until the Olympic luge competitions start in Cortina. "We have to use the time – use it well – and give it our all so that we don't have to experience that feeling from back then again." The two athletes want to compete for a medal in February 2026. "For us, Cortina is much more than a place on the map; we associate it with the ultimate goal. It's a symbol of countless kilometers of training, of hard work, diligence, discipline, and perseverance," says Rieder.

Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner build their own sled. © ANSA / TOMS KALNINS

The technical means cannot and should not be a barrier. The two want to showcase not only their athletic prowess, but also their handmade toboggan. "I really enjoy the tinkering, optimization, and hands-on craftsmanship – and when you then ride a toboggan you designed and built yourself, it's a very special feeling that motivates, inspires pride, and brings us even closer together as a team," says Simon Kainzwaldner. This toboggan is not just a piece of sports equipment, but a collaborative project – one that bridges the gap between expertise from sports and business, while also creating an emotional connection.

2026 is not sometime

The project cannot sustain itself, so Kainzwaldner and Rieder are looking for financial support to continue investing in their life's project. "We are investing everything we have—physically, mentally, and organizationally. What we still need: companies, people, partners who will join us on this journey," says Kainzwaldner.