FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships


The FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships, part of the International Luge Federation have taken place on an almost biennial basis in non-Winter Olympics years since 1979.

Background

These championships are held for and upon naturbahn or natural tracks, runs packed with snow and ice but featuring no artificial banking or artificial refrigeration as would be found on artificial and refrigerated tracks used in the mainstream Luge competitions.
The natural track discipline is an ancient and somewhat more organic form of the sport, requiring more rider intervention and hard braking over rougher tracks made across natural undulations of the path. That intervention, in turn, breaks the track up more for later riders and makes it more unpredictable. As a result, the discipline is often not as fast, but more physical and technical than luge on kunstbahn on the artificial, refrigerated tracks that are shared with bobsleigh and skeleton races. The concept of natural track can be compared with the cross-country discipline in athletics or skiing, or the cyclo-cross and mountain bike disciplines in cycling.
Although natural track luge is not an Olympic event, and venues are limited by climate and topology, FIL remains committed to supporting its inclusion in future Winter Games.

Host cities

Men's singles

Debuted: 1979.

Women's singles

Debuted: 1979.

Men's doubles

Debuted: 1979.

Mixed team

Debuted: 2001.

Medal table

Updated as of the 2025 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships.