Olympia 2022
Paradise for tobogganists: why the Germans go tobogganing so fast
Natalie Geisenberger and Tobias Wendl have each won six Olympic gold medals
© Adam Pretty / Getty Images
Germany is the undisputed tobogganing nation – there are reasons for that: infrastructure and technology are better than in any other country in the world. But that also increases the demands.
After Yanqing’s historic medal frenzy, two things took over in the emotional world of the German head luge coach. “Relief and joy,” reported Norbert Loch. The joy is understandable. The relief may seem strange after an unprecedented Olympic dominance of four golds and two silvers. But at the winter games in China the pressure was on and the German aces had to deliver. “Success is expected of us. That doesn’t make it any easier,” said Olympic champion Johannes Ludwig.
For the Germans, the renewed flood of gold is simply what one would call a return on investment in business. In an international comparison, Germany offers tobogganists a paradise, so to speak. There are four artificial ice rinks in this country, of which the ice track in Oberhof is reserved exclusively for tobogganing. The track at Königssee, home of the record gold winners Natalie Geisenberger, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, cannot be used after storm damage. “We have two outstanding sports facilities, especially in tobogganing,” said the CEO and sports director of the bobsleigh and sled association for Germany, Thomas Schwab, on Friday of the German Press Agency. “Of course, that’s a big advantage that we already have in terms of the system compared to the competition.”
The system advantage has consequences
This system advantage with its consequences, namely medals en masse at major events, feeds the toboggan nation Germany, as is the case in table tennis in China. Germany alone has recorded 38 Olympic victories since the Innsbruck Games in 1964. Success inspires young people, who have idols for orientation. In China, the next generation was already there in silver winner Anna Berreiter, world champion Julia Taubitz and individual sixth Max Langenhan. Even ten-year-old toboggan talents rotate on four German tracks, learn the steering points and mastering the sled in demanding ice channels.
In addition, there is a force in the battle of materials, with which at best the Austrians – thanks to German head coach Rene Friedl – can keep up. First and foremost the Berlin Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES). “In the last two years, together with the FES and our technology partner BMW, we have really taken another step forward,” said Schwab. In addition to the tinkering on the sled, where toboggan icon Georg Hackl brings in his experience, the next level was also reached on the PC. “We also worked more on a virtual level with the material.”
On this point, the world association FIL is trying to break the German dominance. Plans for a standard slide are becoming more concrete, only the rails should be freely selectable. The technical lead of the Germans should melt away faster than a soft ice cream at 30 degrees in the shade. The consequences could be significant for the German association, as it justifies the large investments above all with success.
Destroyed train in Königssee to be rebuilt
So it’s not surprising that Loch and the training group Sonnenschein vom Königssee use the glamor of their recent success to drum up publicity for the reconstruction of their track. The oldest artificial ice rink in the world was destroyed by a storm in the upper area at the toboggan start in July.
“It’s an important training center, especially for the youngsters who are being developed there. That’s why we have to try to get a part of the operation going again as soon as possible,” said Schwab, who sees the basis for success in China above all in Bavaria : “For me it’s a clear sign, the majority of the medals come from this federal base and we need the track at Königssee, especially for the luge area, but also for bobsleigh and skeleton.”
The strong TV ratings for the successes should also be argument enough. Sometimes more than five million viewers cheered on the television. “The reactions from home were overwhelming, I got so much positive news, it’s just good for our team,” said Geisenberger. “We’re not complaining about the TV times, the BSD is constantly presenting three sports. You also have to see that all sports are developing more and more disciplines and everyone wants to be on TV with them. But the TV day is finally over,” emphasized Schwab.
