Natural track lugers could sail into a spectacular future. © Jana Zischg

Is this the revolution in luge?

"Alpine luge" is the new buzzword! A new luge is expected to bring new slopes, new race formats, and new countries into the World Cup. This would revolutionize natural track luge. Initial tests have already been conducted in Switzerland and Sweden. The results are astonishing.

02 April 2025

From: pm/fop

No fewer than 33 athletes (11 women/22 men) from eight nations were invited to the first test races in Grindelwald, Switzerland, and Hammarstrand, Sweden, in March. Participating were athletes from the Natural Track Luge World Cup, world-class athletes from the sport luge world, and ambitious recreational athletes from the respective host countries, including World Champion Evelin Lanthaler, Silvia Runggatscher (Italian Sport Luge Champion), luge legend Patrick Pigneter, and Vice World Champion Daniel Gruber.

The new "Alpine Luge" and new race formats were tested, taking place on a normal, icy toboggan run and on a conventional ski slope with snowboard gates. Although initial skepticism prevailed, the international test days were a complete success, says Pigneter: "We athletes only know our toboggans; we're used to them. But we have to be open to something new; that's the challenge."

Parallel races may also be possible in the future. © Jana Zischg

The goal is to make natural track luge accessible to more nations. Therefore, the "Alpine Luge" is less aggressive to ride, even if the difference to the previous sports equipment is small. "The range of use of the new luge is simply wider, from an ice rink to the spring snow on a ski slope. I would say the old luge is like a racing bike, the new one like a gravel bike (Racing bike with wider tires, editor's note.). Therefore, access to tobogganing will be easier for those interested; that is our goal."

Suddenly many new possibilities

Iced toboggan runs with wooden barriers for World Cup races are actually only found in South Tyrol and Austria. Preparing and maintaining the race tracks is labor-intensive, which deters many potential organizers. Therefore, new race formats are being considered, including iced toboggan runs without wooden barriers, as well as competitions on regular ski slopes. This would reduce the workload for local clubs and organizers, and would also encourage more locations to organize and host races.

Pigneter says: "We were in Grindelwald at a toboggan park at the foot of the Eiger North Face. This park thrives on tourist tobogganing. With just a few simple steps, the toboggan run was ready for us. In Sweden, we wanted to test the 'Alpine Toboggan' on an icy ski slope, like those used in the Ski World Cup. However, the temperature was +10 degrees Celsius – now we know that the new material works even in mud." Gates, like those used in ski cross or snowboard races, mark the course on the ski slope. Parallel races can also be held without much effort.

One thing is also certain, however, that the "traditional" toboggan races on the ice rinks will remain. "This was a test; it doesn't mean it will be like this in the future. I think everyone enjoys the development work, but we haven't reached our goal yet. There's a lot of potential in tobogganing. We want to look ahead so that everyone benefits." Record winner Pigneter, who ended his career with the World Cup finals in March, believes that the best athletes will be at the forefront with the new toboggan and on the ski slopes, too. "However, this also gives other nations the opportunity to better prepare for the races, so the results may be mixed up."

“We must be open to something new” Patrick Pigneter

A look at the results lists supports this assessment: In the test races on Bussalp alone, there were three different female winners: Lisa Walch (GER), Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), and Daniela Mittermair (ITA). Among the men, Stefan Federer (SUI), Christian Bauer (SUI), and Ziga Kralj (SLO) were among those who made it onto the winners' lists.

When the "Alpine Toboggan" will replace the current racing toboggan remains to be seen. "The development process has only just begun and is far from complete," says Pigneter, who will continue to work on the test team. The Future Workshop for Natural Track & Recreational Sports will continue to work intensively on this development.