Atlanta, GA - May 22, 2016 - During this week’s Executive Board meeting of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Atlanta, the FIL and USA Luge announced a joint initiative to further develop the sport of natural track luge in the United States.
The collaboration will establish a new strategic plan that will enable USA Luge to further grow the sport of luge in this country.
"In Europe, natural track luge is a known sport, unlike in the United States,” said FIL President Josef Fendt. “The FIL is pleased to work with USA Luge to build a U.S. natural track program. With the strong tradition of winter sports in the U.S., we believe this is possible."
Natural track luge competitions are contested on surfaces similar to a frozen road, or hillside, with no banked turns. The courses are bordered by vertical walls, as opposed to the banking on artificial tracks seen in World Cup and Olympic events.
The FIL recognizes USA Luge as the only sanctioning body for luge in the United States. Dwight Bell, President of USA Luge, represented the interest of the national governing body at the meeting.
Jointly, both parties will establish a comprehensive plan including such critical elements as recruitment, development, coaching, and equipment needs to move the program forward in the United States.
It was further decided that in lieu of hosting a potential World Cup event in the U.S. in 2017, the focus will be on developing a stronger program that will allow American athletes to better compete internationally.
“We are very pleased to work with our partners at the FIL to develop natural track luge in the United States. It will be extremely beneficial to take advantage of their expertise to develop our blue-print for the future,” said Bell.
“I’m happy to see the FIL and USA Luge develop a partnership that will truly help strengthen the natural track community around the world,” remarked Peter Knauseder, FIL Vice President for Natural Track.
Added Christoph Schweiger, Executive Director of the FIL, “It is very important that the international federation work closely with our partners within the national federations. This announcement truly shows the collaboration the FIL enjoys with USA Luge.”
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