Oberperfuss (PMA) 33rd Junior European Championships on Natural Track of International Luge Federation (FIL) are scheduled from 7th to 8th February 2015 and will be held in Oberperfuss, Austria. The event is also the final of the inaugural season of Junior World Cup. Junior European Championships are held since 1974. The number of favourites is big in 2015 and many nations are aiming for a medal. Ladies race big names are Italians Greta Pinggera and Sara Bachmann. Both finished on World Cup podiums this season and Pinggera also won the bronze medal at World Championships race. Bachmann is the defending champion. In the shadow of GRM Group World Cup young Italian Alexandra Pfattner created headlines in Junior World Cup. She won three out of three races. Austria’s medal hopes at the Ladies race are Michelle Diepold and Maria Auer. A secret favourite for many experts was German Theresa Maurer. Unfortunately she crashed heavily at 5th GRM Group World Cup at Vatra Dornei in Romania. She had to end her season due a knee injury. Only a few junior athletes were able to take roots this season in Men’s World Cup. Junior World Cup was dominated by Italian youngsters. Thomas Unterholzner (ITA) won all three races. Marius Schmelzer (GER) and Tadej Dragicevic (SLO) are both experienced World Cup athletes. They can secure the first junior title for their home countries. The Slovenian has a secret weapon in his team. His sister Petra, who is his regular Doubles partner, will join the Slovenian coaches at Oberperfuss. Team Austria is also aiming for a Men’s medal on home soil. Florian Markt, Thomas Hörburger and Dominik Kirchmair are the host nation’s favourites. Schedule: Saturday, 07/02/2015 09.00 First training run Ladies and Men 11.00 Second training run Ladies and Men and first training run Doubles 13.00 First competition run Doubles 18.30 Opening Ceremony at luge track Sunday, 08/02/2015 09.00 Second and final competition run Doubles 10.00 First competition Run Ladies and Men 11.00 Second and final competition run Ladies and Men 14.00 Victory Ceremony Former European Junior Champions (selection): Men: 2005 Hannes CLARA (ITA) - Kandalaksha, RUS 2007 Patrick PIGNETER (ITA) - St. Sebastian, AUT 2009 Thomas SCHOPF (AUT) - San Martin de Tor, ITA 2011 Alex GRUBER (ITA) – Laas, ITA 2013 Egor DOROFEEV (RUS) - Novouralsk, RUS Ladies: 2005 Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT) 2007 Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT) 2009 Evelin LANTHALER (ITA) 2011 Evelin LANTHALER (ITA) 2013 Sara BACHMANN (ITA) Doubles: 2005 Aleksandr EGOROV/Petr POPOV (RUS) 2007 Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA) 2009 Thomas KAMMERLANDER/Christoph REGENSBURGER (AUT) 2011 Maxim TSVETKOV/Denis MOISEEV (RUS) 2013 Christoph REGENSBURGER/Dominik HOLZKNECHT (AUT)