The tobogganers have their sights set on the podium at Königssee

This season, the traditional artificial ice rink at Königssee replaced the Italian artificial ice rink in Cesana as the second stop (December 1st/2nd, 2012) in the Luge World Cup. Now at the beginning of January, the toboggan elite will stop off again in Berchtesgadener Land to start the year 2013 with the traditional opening race in Königssee. The rink in Königssee was built in 1969 and is the oldest artificial ice rink in the world.

Armin Zöggeler also celebrates his birthday there, almost traditionally: The two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion from Völlan will be 4 years old on Friday, January 39th and would like to celebrate his birthday with another podium finish. Although he finished fifth in December, he showed in the last race of 2012 that he is still a force to be reckoned with. He came second behind “old master” Albert Demchenko, who ended the German winning streak (12 successes in a row). “If we are both at the top of the podium at our age, it is something special,” said the two-time Olympic champion and record world champion (six titles).

German drivers still favorites

In addition to Demchenko, Zöggeler's biggest opponents are the German men, who, apart from Sigulda, have left their mark on all World Cup events of the current season. With Olympic champion Felix Loch, winner in Igls and Altenberg, Johannes Ludwig, twice on the winner's podium, David Möller, second in Igls, and Andi Langenhan, who snatched victory from Loch in the first race at Königsee, four of head coach Norbert Loch's protégés are in better classified in the overall ranking than the Völlaner, who is currently in sixth place. Italy will send a total of three men into the race: in addition to Zöggeler, who won his 22th Italian championship title on December 14nd in La Plagne, David Mair and Dominik Filehner will also be starting.

In addition to Sandra Gasparini, the young Maria Messner is also taking part in the women's race. In December, Gasparini came seventh, while Canadian Alex Gough finished third to prevent the German women from achieving a quadruple victory. Natalie Geisenberger and Co. also have to be careful of the Russian Tatiana Ivanova, who left the black-red-gold series winners behind in Sigulda. But Olympic champion and world champion Tatjana Hüfner, who is still waiting for her first success this season, Olympic bronze medalist Natalie Geisenberger, who was ahead in Königssee and Altenberg, and Igls winner Anke Wischnewski will not make it easy for their competitors.

In the two-seater, however, the “Bayern Express” of Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt has dominated the action so far. The two Germans have won every race so far this season and lead the overall standings with full points. The South Tyroleans' hopes lie with Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber, who broke the spell at the most recent race in Sigulda and achieved third place, apart from the team event in Igls, the first podium finish for local track tobogganers this year. Also at the start are Hans Peter Filehner/Patrick Schwienbacher and Ludwig Rieder/Patrick Rastner.

The Königssee schedule

There is tobogganing on “Dreikönig”. In accordance with this old tradition, the World Cup in Königssee starts the year 5 on January 6th and 2013th. The start of the year on January 5th is reserved for the doubles (start at 9.15 a.m.), before the women compete in the 11.40 meters for them at 1242 a.m. on the same day have to overcome a long ice gully. On Sunday, January 6th, the men will take on the 9.15 meter long route at 1362:12.30 a.m. The team relay World Cup concludes at XNUMX p.m.

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The tobogganers have their sights set on the podium at Königssee

Andi Langenhahn, Natalie Geisenberger and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt were the winners of the artificial track luge world cup at Königssee in December. However, the South Tyroleans were unable to achieve a podium finish. This should change at the second attempt this weekend.

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