Latvian titled sleigh riders are invited to participate in the homologation of the track. After a long journey and several Covid-19 tests, the athletes have successfully arrived in Beijing.
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“Our journey went very well, we had to take several Covid-19 tests. We did the tests in Latvia, Germany and entering China. It was cool that the Chinese to Germany (athletes and coaches of the International Luge Federation and the Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation) sent a special charter flight to take us safely to China! “
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The brothers say that the daily routine is tense and strictly planned. “Our daily routine is quite planned, we get up at 6.00 in the morning, then go to the track to watch the training of Chinese athletes and better understand the lines of the track. After that we sit on the sledge and do our own rides. , during which we all (athletes and coaches) discuss the races on the track, watch the videos and analyze them, as well as discuss the track schedule for the next day.We must be in masks at all times and strictly follow the rules here, the only moment we can remove masks is when we are in our rooms. “
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For Andris and Juris, this is already the third homologation of the Olympic track. “Together, we have participated in four homologations of the track, namely the Sochi, Pyongyang and currently Beijing track, and we have participated in the homologation of the Paramonova track, but this track was not Olympic.”
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“It must be said that the first impressions of the track were very good, you can see that the Chinese have put a lot of work into the architecture and construction of the track, the track is really interesting,” say experienced sleigh riders.
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On Tuesday, October 27, the first races on the Beijing Olympic Games ice rink took place. “Today we made three races and already in the last ride we started to start from the foot of the ladies’ start.
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First impressions after the very first trip? “The feelings were interesting, the adrenaline rushed, because taking the first ride on this track was something completely new.”
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Is it already possible to assess the complexity of the route after the first rides? “The track isn’t too easy, but we’d say it in a good way, because there will be a lot of small knobs on this track to be able to drive fast.”
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What are the first impressions of other athletes, have you talked to each other about it between races?
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“Of course we talk to other athletes and in general everyone is very positive about what’s going on here and what the track is like.”
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Which of the existing tracks is similar to the new, Olympic track? Isn’t it similar to any of the existing tracks?
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“This track has many similar elements to other tracks, such as Nagano, Sochi, Whistler and other high-end tracks, but there are also curves that are something completely new and not seen anywhere else.”
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Athletes will return to Latvia on November 2, where they will continue their preparations for 2020/21. The first World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, which will take place from 27 to 29 November.
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