On the sled, get set, go!
Nine World Cups in seven countries on three continents – the Eberspächer FIL Luge World Cup is a truly global affair in the 2024/2025 season. Plus the World Championships in Canada. Five facts about the sport of luge and five questions for the defending champion: World Champion and overall World Cup winner Max Langenhan.
Five facts about the sport of luge
How fast do you sledge?
11 November 2024 – Last season, the top speed was 144.7 km/h. On the track in Sigulda, Latvia, the Italian Dominic Fischnaller was unstoppable. The track in Whistler, Canada, is regarded as the fastest. The world record of 153.98 km/h was set here by Felix Loch from Germany in 2009.
How many different nations compete in the World Cup?
25 nations from four continents have registered for the 2024/2025 competitions.
Why does Eberspächer support luge?
Winter and ice are the ambience of the sport of luge and this is precisely when top performance is required from the athletes. A combination in which Eberspächer products also prove their worth. The internationalization and increased media interest in the sport of luge suit Eberspächer.
When did the first documented luge race take place?
On February 12, 1883, 21 men from Australia, the USA, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland met in Davos for an international "sledging competition". The route led from Davos to Klosters. In the end, there was not just one, but two winners: 19-year-old Peter Minsch from Davos, a post bus conductor, and Australian Oxford student G. P. Robertson both crossed the finish line in 9:15 minutes. This marked the beginning of the official era of international luge.
Who is the most successful luge athlete of all time?
The Italian Armin Zöggeler can be seen as the most successful luge sportsman of all time as a ten-time overall World Cup winner and with 57 World Cup victories. He has also won six Olympic medals (2x gold, 1x silver and 3x bronze). Eberspächer brand ambassador Georg Hackl is considered the most successful Olympic luger. He took part in six Olympic Games and won gold three times and silver twice. He also collected 38 medals at various major events and celebrated 33 World Cup victories. The flag bearer of the German team at the 2002 Winter Games and award-winning "Luge athlete of the Century" now works as a coach for the Austrian Luge Federation.
Five questions for the overall World Cup Winner and World Champion
Max Langenhan – how are you preparing for the new Eberspächer World Cup season as defending champion?
After my minor back injury in Sigulda at the penultimate World Cup, I was forced to end last season early. After the rehabilitation, I started preparing for the new season and training went really well and without any problems. Over the summer, I went back on the ice for the first time in Oberhof and Berchtesgaden. Here I continued to work on my start technique to get those crucial hundredths. Apart from that, I trained hard, as I do every year, and sweated a lot in the gym. Because all the other athletes have also trained incredibly hard and the cards will be reshuffled again in the 2024/2025 pre-Olympic season.
Background: Max broke his hand at the beginning of the 2022/2023 season and suffered a back injury at the 8th EBERSPÄCHER World Cup 2024 in Sigulda. Both injuries caused him to withdraw from various EBERSPÄCHER World Cups. Although Max Langenhan was unable to compete in the 2024 World Cup final, he won the overall EBERSPÄCHER series for the first time.
Last year, you stood on the podium six times at the World Cup. Then there were the two World Championship titles in Altenberg – what are your goals for 2024/25?
The overall World Cup victory and the World Championship title were of course something very special. I clearly want to build on that this season and have an important say in the medals again – whether at the World Cup or the World Championships. I've always felt very comfortable and had fun on the track in Whistler, which is why the minimum goal is of course a medal. And everyone in the men's event probably has this goal, so it will certainly be very exciting.
This year's World Cup locations are very international. Which tracks are tricky for you and which do you particularly like?
I like all the tracks because there are differences and each has its own highlights. Innsbruck doesn't suit me quite well. The reason for this is probably the lack of training and my experiences there in recent years. Pyeongchang will certainly be very exciting – I’ve never been there before and the Eberspächer World Cup series hasn't stopped in Korea for a long time. Of course, I'm most looking forward to the World Cups in Germany and especially to my home races in Oberhof. The atmosphere there has been gigantic in recent years. My special focus and anticipation is on Whistler, because I'm still missing one or two races there due to my hand injury two years ago.
In luge, as with Eberspächer products, innovation and continuous further development are crucial. With the new Mixed World Cup, the sport is taking a step into the future?
Yes, the luge family connects nations and stands for diversity – this is reflected in the new competitions. I personally think this is really forward-looking! For the first time, one man and one woman will be competing in the single-seater and doubles disciplines at the Mixed World Cup, and one men's and one women's double in a mixed relay team. There is also the possibility that mixed teams from two nations are also allowed if they cannot put together their own mixed team – sounds brilliant to me and like a lot of exciting decisions!
Luge is a fast-paced sport – do you have any tips on whether spectators should watch the competitions on TV or at the track?
Of course, luge is at its best live – anyone who has experienced a World Cup knows what I'm talking about. They are goosebumps moments that you take home with you. Our competitions are often very tight, which makes them super exciting to watch. The spectators get very close to the action and can experience us at speeds of up to 150 km/h from just one meter away. If the competitions take place too far away, then on TV. Here, experts also explain the small but subtle differences in the track, for example with super slow motion, and you can sit comfortably on the couch at home with a cup of tea or mulled wine. My tip: It's best to combine both options and enjoy the excitement.
Many thanks and good luck for the competitions!
