Königssee Ice Canal Reopens After 5 Years

Five years after a massive landslide destroyed significant portions of the track, the Königssee ice canal has reopened for training and competition.

Restoration of the Königssee facility

The reopening ceremony took place in the presence of Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder, who, alongside Sport Minister Joachim Herrmann, served as a primary advocate for the reconstruction following the July 2021 disaster.

Thomas Schwab, Chairman of the Board of the Bob and Sled Association for Germany (BSD), told the German Press Agency that the rapid political commitment to the project was a critical signal for the sport immediately following the catastrophe.

For the BSD, which maintains its headquarters nearby in Berchtesgaden, the restoration was considered non-negotiable despite the availability of other German tracks in Altenberg, Winterberg, and Oberhof.

“The artificial ice track at Königssee is considered the ‘mother of all artificial ice tracks’ and enjoys a very special status among athletes from all over the world,” Schwab said. The venue serves as the central hub for the logistics, equipment, and sports science operations for Germany’s three sliding sports.

Rising costs affect the project budget and timeline

The state government initially committed 53.5 million euros, but the total project cost is expected to rise. Schwab attributed the roughly 10 million euro increase to extended planning and construction phases, necessary design revisions, and price inflation during the five-year period. He said that the final, definitive cost figures remain under the jurisdiction of the local district office.

Critics had previously speculated that costs could reach 100 million euros, a figure Schwab dismissed as being based on the inaccurate perception that the entire track had been destroyed. The current status of the facility is functional for ten of the eleven Olympic disciplines, though the specialized start area for men’s luge remains under construction.

Completion of the men’s start

The construction of the new men’s start is scheduled to begin in March 2027. Officials expect the work to conclude by the end of 2027, clearing the way for the venue to host the World Championships in February 2028. Schwab described the coordination with environmental protection agencies as a constructive dialogue, noting that while interests sometimes diverged, it did not serve as a barrier to the project’s progression.

Double Olympic champion Johannes Lochner, who performed the first test run in a two-man bobsleigh with Schönau Mayor Stefan Kurz, admitted he had harbored doubts about the project’s completion during the years of closure.

For others, the timeline was never in question because it was never expected to be met; three-time Olympic luge champion Norbert Loch stated he had never believed the initial target of an October 2022 reopening. The facility, which has faced long-standing debates regarding sustainability and costs, is now preparing for the upcoming winter season.