Just over a week before the start, the new season of the Natural Track Luge World Cup was officially presented on Thursday in the media hall in Hall in Tirol (AUT). The 2024/2025 World Cup begins on 20 December in Winterleiten (AUT).

(from left) Michael Scheikl, Andreas Castiglioni, Christoph Schwaiger (FIL Executive Director), Riccarda Ruetz

Hall in Tirol (FIL/12/12/2024): Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), Patrick Pigneter (ITA), and Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) will enter the 2024/2025 season as the reigning champions in the overall World Cup. The race calendar, as usual, features six World Cups and one Eliminator, making a total of seven events across the disciplines of Women’s Singles, Men’s Singles, and Doubles. The season kicks off just before Christmas in Winterleiten (AUT) with a double World Cup from 20–22 December. After the turn of the year, the third World Cup is scheduled for 5–6 January 2025 in Laas/Lasa (ITA). On 25–26 January, Mariazell (AUT) will make its return to the World Cup after a three-year hiatus. An especially intense race weekend awaits the athletes from 7–9 February in Umhausen, where the fifth World Cup will take place on the 2021 World Championship track. The weekend concludes with the only Eliminator event of the season on Sunday. The World Cup finale follows on 22–23 February in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA), the venue for the 2013 and 2023 World Championships, which will host the final for the first time.

Highlight: 2025 World Championships

For the first time, the Tyrolean winter sports destination Kühtai (AUT) will host the Natural Track Luge World Championships. The races will be held on the newly constructed natural luge track "Kühtai", following its debut as a World Cup venue in December 2023. For Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), it will be a home championship: "I’m really looking forward to the World Championships. Last year, there were so many spectators cheering me on—it was amazing," said the 20-year-old at the season presentation. Her teammate Michael Scheikl still has unfinished business at the World Championships: "A World Championship title is still missing from my collection," explained the Styrian. "I hope I can compete for a medal at the World Championships."

Junior European Championships

In the Junior World Cup, the European champions will be determined in 2025 in Latsch/Laces (ITA). Andreas Castiglioni, Director of Sport and Technology for Natural Track Luge, stated: "This winter’s Junior World Cup will feature four races as well as the Junior European Championships. I expect exciting races again this winter, as many young lugers are pushing forward and putting pressure on the established athletes."

The World Cups will once again be streamed live on the International Luge Federation’s (FIL) website. Here is the livestream of the presentation...

Race Calendar at a Glance

World Cup 2024/2025
•    20–22 December: Winterleiten, AUT
•    5–6 January: Laas/Lasa, ITA
•    25–26 January: Mariazell, AUT
•    7–9 February: Umhausen, AUT
•    22–23 February: Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, ITA

25th Natural Track Luge World Championships
•    17–19 January: Kühtai, AUT

Junior World Cup 2024/2025
•    28–29 December: Winterleiten, AUT
•    3–4 January: Passeiertal/Val Passiria, ITA
•    11–12 January: Umhausen, AUT
•    1–2 February: Laas/Lasa, ITA

Junior European Championships
•    15–16 February: Latsch/Laces, ITA