For two crews in Cortin D’Ampeco / Day

Two former pilots and one foreign specialist will try to prove his ability to confirm their ability in the Latvian Bobsleigh Coach Corps during the Olympic season. Emīls Cipulis, who will be assisted by Edgars Maskalāns and physical fitness coach Eric Franke, has taken the head coach.

Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (LBSF) Secretary General Janika Judeika Day It was discovered that other bidders had been addressed. « There were negotiations with the candidates – someone agreed, and someone not again. We agreed with the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, as well as the candidates, and we agreed that Cipulis was currently the most appropriate contender for the position of head coach of the Latvian bobsleigh team. » Another former pilot Edgars Maskalāns will be assisted by Cipulis, but for the first time, a foreign specialist will be responsible for physical fitness in the Latvian team. 35 -year -old Franke, who won a silver medal in the four -ranked four -ranked team at the Pyeongchang Olympics at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Franke has been addressed because he has a close relationship with Latvia. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) was once responsible for social media, Liva Oliņa, now Liva Franke. Bobsleigh in the community both met and got married a few years ago. Franke lives in both Germany and Jelgava.

The agreement between the new coaches has been reached for next season. « We have spoken that after one year, both parties will evaluate the cooperation. Of course, the goal is to cooperate in the long run and to think about the 2030 Olympics in a timely manner. » According to Janik, Cipulis will have the role of the captain who oversees all the processes. « He will be in close contact with the other two coaches. Emil will be responsible for teamwork, but at the same time work with pilots to transfer his knowledge to them. The track coach will also be performed by Edgar Maskalan, who has already accumulated this type of experience at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. Both former mechanics Viesturs Thunder and Oscar Berk are expected to work.

Next season’s calendar does not include competitions in North America. « We are currently focusing on seven World Cup stages, with a selection of D’Ampeco Olympics in Milan and Cortina, » Judeika explained. « Let’s start with two doubles and four crews, which will be piloted by Jacob Kalenda and Renārs Grantiņš. After last season, no one has gone from the pushers, and we hope to have an addition. » On Wednesday, the Daugava Athletics Hall in Riga hosted a selection of young bobsleighers, with 15 applicants. According to head coach Cipulis, the three team coaches are ready to start cooperation. The search for young and prospective bobsleighers will continue. In June, bobsleighers are scheduled for training camp in Valmiera. A year ago, two leading pushers Dāvis Spriņģis and Christ Lindenblats announced the end of the bobsleigh career. Asked whether the return of both of the coaches was possible, Judeika replied: « I will not comment yet, but everything is possible in life. »

At the initiative of the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC), the Milan-Cortin 2026 Winter Sports Federations have been funded from the country, and bobsleighers have opened the opportunity to purchase a sleigh made by one-time and one-fours of Austrian Waller. According to the new selection rules, there is a more realistic chance of qualifying for the Olympics with two crews, as they will not be able to go to Cortin d’Ampeco in just one discipline, such as in two.

Preliminary 2025/2026. Sigulda is not included in the World Cup calendar, but based on the successful experience of previous years, a few weeks ago, the LBSF received an offer from the IBSF to host one of two PK stages scheduled for Lillehammer in December. « We have contacted the Ministry of Education and Science about possible co -financing. The organization of the competition in Sigulda would also be important to us because the selection of the Olympics will take place in the World Cup.

Bobsleigh

2025/2026 the preliminary calendar of the season

22-23.XI PK Cortin D’Ampeco

29-30.XI PK in Eagle

13-14.XII PK Lillehammer

20-21.XII PK Lillehammer

3-4.I PK in Winterberg

10-11.I PK in St. Moritz

17-18.I PK in Altenberg

16-22.II OS Cortina d’Ampeco

7. -8.III PK Königsee

(PK – World Cup, OS – Olympics)