The new mixed format is very popular

Lillehammer (FIL/01 Dec 2024) The lugers were thrilled by the premiere of the EBERSPAECHER mixed event presented by SKECHERS in Lillehammer. ‘It's something beautiful, new, fresh. We are happy to see the sport developing. The world federation is welcome to continue in this way,’ said Tobias Wendl. The six-time Olympic champion was in a good position to comment, having won the first race in the new mixed doubles discipline with his partner Tobias Arlt and the women's doubles Dajana Eitberger/Magdalena Matschina. The German quartet, which had entered the ice track as Germany 2, took 1:44.148 minutes to complete the course. The first team of Latvians with Martins Bots/Roberts Plume and Marta Robezniece/Kitija Bogdanova came in second, 0.456 seconds behind the USA team (Marcus Mueller/Ansel Hauhsjaa; Chevonne Forgan/Sophia Kirkby; 0.536). ‘It's nothing special for us, we're going down as always,’ said Plume, while front woman Robezniece confessed: “Starting with the gate is challenging. We definitely need to practice that more.” The handover was also challenging for the US double in Team USA. “We've never hit a touchpad before,” admitted Mueller, ’but it worked out great.’

In the mixed singles, the end result was a simple mathematical summation. Julia Taubitz, the fastest woman, plus Max Langenhan, the fastest man, equals the fastest mixed team. In 1:45.429 seconds, the two Germans distanced themselves from their competitors. The US-duo Jonathan Gustafson and Emily Sweeney finished second, 0.263 seconds back, followed by Germany 2 with Felix Loch and Merle Fräbel (0.312 seconds back). Behind them, the Latvians and Austrians were bunched together. Latvia 2 (Kaspers Rinks/Elina Bota; 0.360) finished ahead of Latvia 1 with the Kristers Aparjods siblings (0.404) in fourth, followed by Austria 1 (Wolfgang Kindl/Lisa Schulte; 0.487) and Austria 2 (Nico Gleirscher/Barbara Allmaier; 0.549).

The best mixed team with mixed nations was formed by Switzerland's Natalie Maag and Alexander Ferlazzo (Australia) in ninth place (0.653). The second mixed double with Jozef Ninis (Slovakia) and Veronica Ravenna (Argentina) came in 13th place (1.086). ‘It's a shame that we don't currently have a woman in Slovakia in the World Cup,’ said Ninis, “that's why I asked Veronica. She said: ”It was fun with my new partner.’