View source for Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track

{{Location map
|Germany
|relief     = 1
|label      = Königssee
|position   = top
|lat        = 47.589
|long       = 12.981
|caption    = Location in [[Germany]]
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 180
}}
{{Location map
|Bavaria
|relief     = 1
|label      = Königssee
|position   = top
|lat        = 47.589
|long       = 12.981
|caption    = Location in [[Bavaria]]
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 180
}}
[[Image:Koenigssee luge track-track map english.svg|thumb|Königssee track map]]
The '''Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track''' is a venue in [[Germany]] for [[bobsleigh]], [[luge]] and [[skeleton (sport)|skeleton]], located in [[Schönau am Königssee]],  [[Bavaria]], near [[Königssee]] (German for "King's Lake") and the border with [[Austria]]. Completed {{Years or months ago|1968}} in 1968, it is the first permanent, artificially [[refrigeration|refrigerated]] bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in the world. In July 2021, the track was severely damaged by the [[2021 European floods|floods that affected the European continent]], and is currently under reconstruction.

==History==
In 1967, Königssee hosted the [[FIL European Luge Championships 1967|European luge championships]] on a [[natural]]ly refrigerated track.<ref name=europe>[http://sports123.com/lug/me-s.html FIL European Luge Championships men's singles results since 1914] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115212520/http://sports123.com/lug/me-s.html |date=15 November 2006}}</ref> Later that year, it was decided to construct a permanent, [[reinforced concrete]] structure that was artificially refrigerated. The track, initially for luge, was completed in 1968.<ref>"Bobsleigh and Olympism", ''Olympic Review''. December 1984. p. 1011.</ref> The first international competition took place the following year with the [[FIL World Luge Championships 1969|FIL World Luge Championships]].<ref>"Luge and Olympism", December 1983. p. 853.</ref>

On 3–4 December 1977, the track hosted the first Luge World Cup event won by [[Paul Hildgartner]] ([[Italy]] - men's singles), [[Andrea Fendt]] ([[West Germany]] - women's singles), and Italy's [[Peter Gschnitzer]] and [[Karl Brunner (luge)|Karl Brunner]] (men's doubles).<ref>{{FIL-Luge link|url1 = http://www.fil-luge.org/News-Detail.155.0.html?&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = pS|url2 = =1199142000&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = pL|url3 = =2678399&tx_ttnews|bracket3 = arc|url4 = =1&tx_ttnews|bracket4 = tt_news|url5 = =2739&tx_ttnews|bracket5 = backPid|url6 = =157&cHash=66bdda12b4|title = No drudgery after luge festival in Thuringia.}} (30 January 2008 article; accessed 2 December 2009).</ref> 

Bobsleigh was added to the track in the 1970s in time for the track to host their [[FIBT World Championships|sports' championship event]] in [[FIBT World Championships 1979|1979]], the first time any track would host both bobsleigh and [[FIL World Luge Championships 1979|luge]] in the same year in a non-[[Winter Olympic]] year (the track in [[Igls bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Igls]], [[Austria]], was the first to do this at the [[1976 Winter Olympics]] in [[Innsbruck]]).<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1976/orw1976.pdf 1976 Winter Olympics official report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226202233/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1976/orw1976.pdf|date=26 February 2008 }}, pp. 206–208 on the Igls track. {{in lang|en|fr}}, and {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref name=bob>[http://sports123.com/bob/mw-2.html Bobsleigh two-man world championship medalists since 1931] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091333/http://sports123.com/bob/mw-2.html|date=29 September 2007}}</ref><ref name=world>[http://sports123.com/lug/mw-s.html FIL World Luge Championships men's single results since 1955] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218194001/http://sports123.com/lug/mw-s.html |date=18 December 2007}}</ref>

Skeleton competitions began in the late 1970s, hosting the world championships in [[FIBT World Championships 1990|1990]].<ref name=skeleton>[http://sports123.com/ske/mw.html FIBT men's skeleton world championships men's skeleton results since 1989] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111059/http://sports123.com/ske/mw.html |date=29 September 2007}}</ref> The track was part of [[Salzburg]], Austria's unsuccessful bid for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in 2007.<ref>Salzburg2014 Book 8 on bid featuring Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and track bid, pp. 51–54. {{in lang|en|fr}} (dealinked)</ref> In October 2008, it was announced that the track would undergo a renovation project from 2010 to 2016.<ref>[http://www.muenchen2018.org/bewerbungsthemen/sportstaetten/index.html List of proposed sports facilities to be used for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Munich, including Königssee.] {{in lang|de}}. Accessed 17 October 2009.</ref> Costing [[Euro|€]] 21.7 million to do, the track is being done in part of [[Munich]]'s bid to host the [[2018 Winter Olympics]]. Renovation includes extending the finish line and a new building near turn 16 and is scheduled to be complete by 2012. The starting area of the track will be started in 2014 and will finish in 2016.<ref name=lwc2010>{{FIL-Luge link|url1 = http://www.fil-luge.org/News-Detail.155.0.html?&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =11117&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =307&cHash=18142461f2|title = Last Viessmann Luge World Cup prior to Koenigsee reconstruction.}} (31 December 2009 FIL article; accessed 8 January 2010).</ref> On 28 February 2009, it was announced the track would host the [[FIBT World Championships 2011|2011 FIBT World Championships]] after the original winner, [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]], withdrew due to issues with the city and the [[Eugenio Monti track|track]].<ref name=fibt2011>{{fibt link|url1= http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews|bracket1= tt_news|url2= =543&tx_ttnews|bracket2= backPid|url3= =2&cHash=387b0ffdf3 | title = Königssee to Host 2011 FIBT World Championship.}} (28 February 2009 accessed 28 February 2009.)</ref> The 29th and last [[List of Luge World Cup champions|Luge World Cup]] at the track prior to renovation took place on 2–3 January 2010.<ref name=lwc2010 /> [[List of Bobsleigh World Cup champions|Bobsleigh]] and [[List of Skeleton World Cup champions|Skeleton]] had their last World Cup prior to renovation the following weekend.<ref>{{FIBT link|url1 = http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =1006&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =2&cHash=215e63f301|title = World Cup Action Resumes in Koeningsee.}} (7 January 2010 FIBT article; accessed 8 January 2010).</ref>

Track renovation was done during the rest of 2010. At the end of March 2010, the Turbodrom Kreisel turn caught fire following some [[welding]] work and was badly damaged. Renovation of the refrigeration plant was carried out in December 2010 with [[ammonia]] being pumped in on the 18th. Olympic champion [[Felix Loch]] made the first run on the luge part of the track on the 23rd in time for the World Cup event on 5–6 January 2011. The renovation was also done for the 2011 FIBT World Championships that took place in late February.<ref>{{FIL-Luge link|url1 = http://www.fil-luge.org/index.php?id=424&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =12103&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =461&cHash=5efe536f67|title = Homologisation of new artificially-iced track in Koenigssee. Olympic champion Felix Loch mad the first run.}} (3 January 2011 article; accessed 4 January 2011).</ref>

In 2021, the track was severely damaged by the flooding across [[2021 European floods|Europe]]. According to BSD (German Bobsleigh and Luge Association) President [[Thomas Schwab]], it would take until October 2022 before the track will return to competition status. There was no [[ammonia]] [[refrigeration]] leak though to the piping being shut off to the end of the season.<ref>[https://www.fil-luge.org/en/news/koenigssee-luge-track-destroyed-by-storm Article on damage to the Koeningssee track], fil-luge.org. 18 July 2021. Accessed 19 July 2021.</ref>

On April 22, 2024, work began on the reconstruction of the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track with the dismantling of the men's luge start as well as the damaged track segments down to curve 5. The construction phase of the bedload dosing barrier, ammonia and long-distance lines will start in October 2024 and repair work on the Bobstart building in early 2025.<ref>[https://www.berchtesgadener-anzeiger.de/region-und-lokal/lokales-berchtesgadener-land/schoenau-am-koenigssee_artikel,-abrissarbeiten-an-der-bobbahn-sind-gestartet-_arid,866538.html], berchtesgadener-anzeiger.de. 23 April 2024. Accessed 24 April 2024.</ref>

The artificial track at Königssee is scheduled to reopen in November 2025, with FIL and IBSF World Cups being hosted again starting with the 2025/2026 season. In addition, on June 15, 2024, at the congress in Lake Placid, the FIL awarded the 2028 Luge World Championships to the track at Königssee.<ref>[https://www.fil-luge.org/en/news/koenigssee-to-host-fil-world-championships-for-the-eighth-time-in-2028], fil-luge.org. 15 June 2024. Accessed 24 September 2024.</ref>

==Statistics==
[[Image:Kunsteisbahn Eisarena Königssee.jpg|thumb|right|Ice rink at Königssee]]
[[File:Deutsche Post Eisarena Königssee, Schönau am Königssee, Alemania, 2019-05-17, DD 02.jpg|thumb|Deutsche Post Eisarena Königssee.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Physical statistics
! Sport<ref>[http://www.weltcup-koenigssee.de/index.php?id=79 Königssee track data] ''{{in lang|de}}''. Accessed 19 February 2012.</ref>
! Length
! Turns
! Grade
|-
|Luge - men's singles
|{{convert|1.362|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
|align=center|16
|align=right|10.35%
|-
|Skeleton
|{{convert|1.270|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
|align=center|12
|align=right|9.20%
|-
|Bobsleigh
|{{convert|1.270|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
|align=center|13
|align=right|9.30%
|-
|Luge - women's singles
|{{convert|1.242|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
|align=center|12
|align=right|9.20%
|-
|Luge - men's doubles
|{{convert|1.242|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}
|align=center|12
|align=right|9.20%
|}
The track has a vertical drop of {{convert|117|m|0}} from the bobsleigh start; the [[elevation]] at the base is {{convert|630|m|round=5|abbr=on}} above [[sea level]].<ref name=trcinf>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/9/Königssee |publisher=IBSF |title=Königssee|agency=(tracks) |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+Turns
! Turn number
! Name
! Reason named
|-
|2, 3
|Eiskapelle
|German for "Ice chapel"
|-
|5, 6, 7, 8, 9
|Schlangengrube/ S-Kombination
|German for "Snake pit"/ S-combination in {{in lang|de}} (Four turns in quick succession without a straight ([[labyrinth]]))
|-
|13.
|Turbodrom
|320-degree Kreisel (circular) curve.
|-
|16.
|[[Josef Fendt]] Kurve
|Originally ''Echowand'' and later ''Seekurve'' (Lake curve), renamed in November 2020 for Fendt, who served as [[International Luge Federation]] president from February 1994 to November 2020. Fendt won [[FIL World Luge Championships|World Championships]] on this track both in [[FIL World Luge Championships 1970|1970]] and [[FIL World Luge Championships 1974|1974]].
|-
|17, 18
|Zielhaus
|German for "Finish house".
|}

Turns 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 have no names listed in the track diagram.<ref>[http://www.bsd-portal.de/index.php?id=368 BSD.de track profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807222203/http://www.bsd-portal.de/index.php?id=368 |date=7 August 2009 }} {{in lang|de}}.</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+Track records (all from <ref>[http://www.weltcup-koenigssee.de/kunsteisbahn-koenigssee/bahnrekorde.html Königssee track records.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914151435/http://www.weltcup-koenigssee.de/kunsteisbahn-koenigssee/bahnrekorde.html |date=14 September 2009 }} Accessed 20 December 2008.</ref> unless noted)
! Sport
! Record
! Nation
! Athlete(s)
! Date
! Time<br>(sec.)
|-
| Bobsleigh - two-man<ref>[http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=63&event=22445&L=0 FIBT Bobsleigh World Cup Königgssee 10 January 2009 bobsleigh two-man results]. Accessed 10 January 2009.</ref>
| Start
| &nbsp;{{SUI}}
| [[Beat Hefti]] & [[Thomas Lamparter]]
| align=right|10 Jan 2009
| align=right|4.80
|-
| Bobsleigh - two-man<ref>{{FIBT link|url1 = http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =1036&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =2&cHash=194db86fcd|title = Florschuetz Takes 2-Man in Koenigssee.}} (9 January 2010 article; accessed 9 January 2010).</ref>
| Track
| {{GER}}
| [[André Lange]] & [[Kevin Kuske]]
| align=right|9 Jan 2010
| align=right|49.00
|-
| Bobsleigh - two-woman<ref>[http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=63&event=23438&L=0 Bobsleigh - two-woman results]
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913082659/http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=63&event=23438&L=0 |date=13 September 2012 }} (9 January 2010 article; accessed 9 January 2010).</ref>
| Start
| {{CAN}}
| [[Kaillie Humphries]] & [[Heather Moyse]]
| align=right|9 Jan 2010
| align=right|5.25
|-
| Bobsleigh - two-woman<ref>{{FIBT link|url1 = http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =1041&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =2&cHash=4bac581c67|title = Martini Sets Record, Wins Women's Bob Race.}} (9 January 2010 article; accessed 9 January 2010).</ref>
| Track
| {{GER}}
| [[Cathleen Martini]] & [[Romy Logsch]]
| align=right|9 Jan 2010
| align=right|50.37
|-
| Bobsleigh - four-man
| Start
| {{LAT}}
| [[Oskars Melbārdis]], [[Helvijs Lūsis]],<br>[[Arvis Vilkaste]], & [[Jānis Strenga]]
| align=right|15 Jan 2012
| align=right|4.77
|-
| Bobsleigh - four-man
| Track
| {{GER}}
| [[André Lange]], [[Kevin Kuske]],<br>[[René Hoppe]], & [[Alexander Metzger]]
| align=right|3 Feb 2008
| align=right|48.38
|-
| Luge - men's singles<ref name=lms>[http://www.fil-luge.org/filext/result_detail_select.asp?lan=en&currSeason=2009%2F2010&art=KB&cup_type=WC+&event_id_fk=475 FIL Luge World Cup Königssee 3 January 2010 men's singles results]. Accessed 3 January 2010.</ref>
| Start
| {{GER}}
| (tie) - [[David Möller]] & [[Jan Eichhorn]]
| align=right|6 Jan 2008
| align=right|3.229
|-
| Luge - men's singles<ref name=lms />
| Track
| {{RUS}}
| [[Albert Demtschenko]]
| align=right|3 Jan 2010
| align=right|47.049
|-
| Luge - women's singles<ref name=lws>[http://www.fil-luge.org/filext/result_detail_select.asp?lan=en&currSeason=2009%2F2010&art=KB&cup_type=WC+&event_id_fk=475 FIL Luge World Cup Königssee 2 January 2010 women's singles results]. Accessed 2 January 2010.</ref>
| Start
| {{GER}}
| [[Silke Kraushaar]]
| align=right|8 Jan 2005
| align=right|2.962
|-
| Luge - women's singles<ref name=lws />
| Track
| {{GER}}
| [[Tatjana Hüfner]]
| align=right|5 Jan 2008
| align=right|47.262
|-
| Luge - men's doubles<ref name=doubles>[http://www.fil-luge.org/filext/result_detail_select.asp?lan=en&currSeason=2009%2F2010&art=KB&cup_type=WC+&event_id_fk=475 FIL Luge World Cup Königssee 2 January 2010 doubles results]. Accessed 2 January 2010.</ref>
| Start
| {{GER}}
| [[Tobias Wendl]] & [[Tobias Arlt]]
| align=right|2 Jan 2010
| align=right|2.847
|-
| Luge - men's doubles<ref name=doubles />
| Track
| {{GER}}
| [[Patric Leitner]] & [[Alexander Resch]]
| align=right|5 Jan 2008
| align=right|46.921
|-
| Skeleton - men
| Start
| {{RUS}}
| [[Aleksandr Tretyakov (skeleton racer)|Aleksandr Tretyakov]]
| align=right|2 Feb 2008
| align=right|4.56
|-
| Skeleton - men<ref>[http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=63&event=22443&L=0 FIBT Skeleton World Cup Königssee World Cup 9 January 2009 men's skeleton results]. Accessed 10 January 2009.</ref>
| Track
| {{GER}} 
| [[Frank Rommel]]
| align=right|9 Jan 2009
| align=right|47.44
|-
| Skeleton - women
| Start
| {{CAN}}
| [[Lindsay Alcock]]
| align=right|28 Feb 2004
| align=right|4.96
|-
| Skeleton - women<ref>{{FIBT link|url1 = http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews|bracket1 = tt_news|url2 = =1016&tx_ttnews|bracket2 = backPid|url3 = =2&cHash=2fe0063ed9|title = Hollingsworth Sets Record, Wins in Koenigssee.}} (8 January 2010 FIBT article; accessed 8 January 2010).</ref>
| Track
| {{CAN}}
| [[Mellisa Hollingsworth]]
| align=right|8 Jan 2010
| align=right|48.78
|}

==Championships hosted==
*[[FIBT World Championships]]: [[FIBT World Championships 1979|1979]], [[FIBT World Championships 1986|1986]],<ref name=bob /> [[FIBT World Championships 1990|1990]] (men's skeleton),<ref name=skeleton /> [[FIBT World Championships 2004|2004]] (all bobsleigh and skeleton events),<ref name=bob /> [[FIBT World Championships 2011|2011]], [[IBSF World Championships 2017|2017]]<ref name=fibt2011 />
*[[FIL European Luge Championships]]: [[FIL European Luge Championships 1967|1967]] (As a natural track.), [[FIL European Luge Championships 1972|1972]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1973|1973]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1977|1977]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1988|1988]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1994|1994]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 2017|2017]]<ref name=europe />
*[[FIL World Luge Championships]]: [[FIL World Luge Championships 1969|1969]], [[FIL World Luge Championships 1970|1970]], [[FIL World Luge Championships 1974|1974]], [[FIL World Luge Championships 1979|1979]], [[FIL World Luge Championships 1999|1999]], [[2016 FIL World Luge Championships|2016]], [[2021 FIL World Luge Championships|2021]]<ref name=world />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090807222203/http://www.bsd-portal.de/index.php?id=368 BSD profile] {{in lang|de}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072909/http://fibt.pixabit.de/index.php?id=153&track_id=9&L=0 FIBT track profile] - Click on video link for track. To left is where bobsleigh intersects with men's single luge part of track, then followed right after with luge - women's singles, luge - women's doubles, and skeleton parts of the track.
* [http://www.fil-luge.org/filext/Track/koenigssee_en.htm FIL-Luge.org track profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071229103311/http://www.weltcup-koenigssee.de/ Official website] {{in lang|de}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSERPnWP3cQ Youtube.com profile of American luger Brian Martin from the men's singles luge start house.]

{{Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks}}

{{coord|47.5887|N|12.9812|E|source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Konigssee Bobsleigh, Luge, And Skeleton Track}}
[[Category:Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks in Germany]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Bavaria]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Berchtesgadener Land]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1968]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:Sport in Upper Bavaria]]