Monzanator

Well, the old boarding tracks had no future beyond a certain date. The rise of luge kinda helped bobsleigh into modern transition. The cost of building a new artificial track is still too big for just about everyone.

Meanwhile Shiffrin has tied Annemarie Moser-Proell's 62 World Cup victories. Only 20 behind Lindsey Vonn's record. This feels so effortless nobody's talking about it

Huh? Someone had to build a track outside St. Moritz to set the ball in motion. Without Igls I doubt we have luge & bobsleigh as Olympic sport right now. There are far more natural luge tracks out there so even if luge got an Olympic spot, it would have been on natural tracks.

Without Igls luge & bobsleigh would never become an Olympic sport tho Sometimes simplicity is the reason for success.

Bludenz in the Vorarlberg. Track will be 725m and used by juniors. It's hardly a waste of funds IMO. They still have Igls for the seniors. https://www.fil-luge.org/en/news/green-light-for-ice-track-construction-in-bludenz

Not on the women's side which used to be more dominated by Germans. I still remember Neuner & Tagwerker. They were more of a threat than anyone Austria has right now. Hannah Prock is a total waste of time. Demchenko's daughter makes her look like a complete fraud. I can't decide which offspring is worse, Hannah Prock in luge or Nina Ortlieb in alpine skiing.

Holdener is a total fraud. Hansdotter at least had Flachau and the bullshit Pyeongchang course. Since Shiffrin crashes out like once every 25343 races I'd say she will never win a regular slalom in her career.

Shiffrin wins by 2,29! Total knockout. 4th place over 3 seconds back

Holdener straddles the second gate. A new way to choke. Swenn-Larsson on the podium.

Let's get real, nobody gives a flying fuck about luge other than Germany. You have to have the facilities to be successful at it and Germany has them. Due to winter games being held in obscure locations lately you can't count on Koreans or Chinese making a run (though it worked in skeleton or even bobsleight a little). Russians are doing much better than in the 90s for instance, Paramonovo, Sochi and Sigulda have helped them a lot. Hell, Latvians building a track in Sigulda was a very good decision but it was easier in a country where there's zero winter sport success or interest outside of ice hockey. Austria & Italy have had success historically but no way luge becomes the new black here. Switzerland ought to do better in luge tbh but it seems like bobsleigh is their main focus again and again.

I'm not surprised. Even Georg Hackl once said Sigulda & Lake Placid are the two worst tracks for German lugers because the start speed isn't that important here. Germans continue to rely on the starts very much for a long time. Paramonovo, the other notoriously tough track for Germans has become extinct since Sochi came on the map.

I was pretty sure Nastasia Noens hasn't retired and then I see her on crutches (broken tibia). I guess she wants to continue? She's only 31yo so I see her going on until Beijing OG. It's not like there is some competition in the French squad.

Brignone 11th, + 3,41!

Elvira 0,4 behind Hanna in battle for 11th Good results for Aymonier 9th & Talihaerm 26th!

Davidova finishes third, +11.9 behind.

Davidova losing time on the last loop... this was some run by Wierer.

Davidova +3,7 secs after 2nd shoot! She can win this...

Philosophy is flat out boring for teenagers. Today generation's attention span is like 20 seconds and you want to teach them philosophy? Children aren't adults and shouldn't be treated as such. America has the highest obesity rate in the world so you should rather teach more gymnastics

Bassino wins by 0,26! Well done!

Vlhova down in 5th so Italian victory. Bassino will probably choke this away...

Brignone might win this tbh.

Domaradzka is just 19yo. A tight track like Lake Placid is always a huge test for her. She can only get better on these modern tracks. Hannah Prock with a total disaster as well. So much for that famous name.

Hungary is the German group co-host so it was obvious their playoff section winner will go to Group F. Btw, Russia vs Finland! Winter War revenge?

Group A - Italy, Turkey, Switzerland & Wales. Kinda tough line-up there.

Group F - Germany, France & Portugal