Sylke Otto and Armin Zoeggeler heading for World Cup Victory and Excitement in Doubles

Dec 6, 1999
Calgary

Von Wolfgang Harder, FIL

Calgary. (pps) Sylke Otto of Germany and Italy's Armin Zoeggeler are heading straight for the overall victory in the 1999-2000 Viessmann Luge World Cup. Prior to the 5th event next weekend in Calgary, Sylke Otto, triple winner this season, leads with 385 points and 55 points ahead of Olympic champion Silke Kraushaar, Germany. In the men's singles Armin Zoeggeler is yet undefeated dominating his event with 400 points. Germany's Jens Mueller is undisputed second with four second positions behind Zoeggeler and 340 points.

Both Zoeggeler and Mueller have good memories of the Olympic track at Canada Olympic Park. The German achieved his greatest success there when winning Olympic gold in 1988, while Zoeggeler won the last World Cup event in Calgary in December 1997. Sylke Otto also won back in 1997.

The doubles event proves the most exciting at present. Germans Steffen Skel and Steffen Woeller took over the lead last weekend with their victory at Koenigssee. They have now 320 points, just 20 more than Americans Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin. Germany's World champions Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch are in this position with 285 points.

Two and a half hours live on Eurosport

Calgary. (pps) Eurosport will broadcast extensively from the Viessmann Luge World Cup next weekend on the Olympic track in Calgary. The pan-European channel intends to show two and a half hours live: 90 minutes from the women's singles and the doubles on Saturday (20:00-21:30 CET) and 60 minutes from the men's singles on Sunday (20:00-21:00 hrs CET).

Calgary hosts 2001 World Luge Championships

Calgary. (pps) The lugers will travel to the 5th Viessmann Luge World Cup in Calgary with special attention. The artificially-iced track at Canada Olympic Park, COP, will stage the 35th World Luge Championships in 2001. Calgary will host the season's highlight for the third time in history. After the 1988 Olympic Games Calgary also played host to the 1993 World Luge Championships.

USA compete in European Luge Championships at Winterberg

Calgary. (pps) The US national team will compete in the European Luge Championships at Winterberg on January 14-16, 2000. This was confirmed by US coach Wolfgang Schaedler. After a training course on the future Olympic track in Salt Lake City, the Americans, headed by the Olympic and World bronze medallists, Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, will travel to Winterberg and compete out of competition in the Europeans.

Sylke Otto, Zoeggeler and Krausse-Behrendt last winners in Calgary

Calgary. (pps) World Cup leaders Sylke Otto, Germany, and Armin Zoeggeler, Italy, will travel to Calgary with the best of memories to the 5th Viessmann Luge World Cup in Calgary: they both won the last World Cup event on the 1988 Olympic track in the Olympic winter of 1997-98. Winners in the doubles back then were Germany's Stefan Krausse and Jan Behrendt who retired from their career after winning Olympic gold in Nagano 1998.

The schedule for Calgary

Calgary. (pps) The women's singles and the doubles will start the 5th Viessmann Luge World Cup at Calgary on Saturday. The men's winner will be determined on Sunday.

The schedule for Calgary:
Saturday (December 11)

Sunday (December 12)