Luggate’s Hunter Burke (22) has just returned from a three month stint in Europe honing his skills at luging, a challenging sport involving aerodynamics, speed and accuracy.

Hunter’s training and racing programme included events in Germany, Latvia, Austria, Norway and a few days off in Italy over Christmas with some friends.

Hunter said he was most proud of his 26th placing in Altenberg.

“Since moving up to the senior circuit I’m competing against a lot of experienced athletes so I kept my expectations realistic,” he said.

“It was my first time going from the men's start from that track. I only had nine runs down the track before race day so I wasn’t expecting much but I put down quite a clean run and I was very happy with that result.”

After taking part in seven of the scheduled 10 world cup races Hunter was ranked 38th from 56 athletes, hailing from 20 different countries. 

Hunter is a two-time NZ champion in luging and he achieved an 18th place finish in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

His talents span to another icy sport - Hunter is part of the team who have won the NZ Junior men’s Curling title for the past three years.

Hunter on Igls track in Innsbruck, Austria which was used in the 1976 Olympic Winter Games and the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. PHOTO: Supplied 

One of his longer term goals is to reach the Winter Olympics in the luge, to be held in February 2026 in Northern and Northeast Italy. 

“Qualifications [for] the 2026 winter games have already started and I’m on my way to meeting the criteria,” he said.

“Next season will be a real challenge as I’ll have to compete against seven other nations in the overall rankings for one of the last spots. I’ve got a lot of preparation to do between now and then so I’m ready when the season starts.”

Hunter has been studying civil engineering at Otago Polytechnic, and has one more year until he’ll finish his degree. 

Last year he took a gap year to work and make money to help fund this recent trip.

“I would like to thank all of the supporters who follow the New Zealand Luge Facebook page and write in every week with their supportive messages, [also] all the people who donated to my fundraiser as I wouldn’t have had the funds to go without them. And the biggest thanks goes to my mum for running all the fundraisers and supporting me for all these years.”

The International Luge Federation World Cup was held in Winterberg Germany in mid January, Hunter missed qualifying for a final by 1.5 seconds although improved upon his training time by more than half a second. PHOTO: New Zealand Luge Facebook

Luge (where athletes race down an ice track lying feet first on a specialised sled, reaching speeds of 135km/h) is a small sport in New Zealand - the country’s only ice luge track is based in Naseby and the 360m track is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hunter said he will be in Naseby as much as he can during the winter training hard.

“My coaches are from Romania and Latvia so during the New Zealand winter they are not able to make it over. So during that time it’s really up to me to put in the effort and work on the things I know need improving.”

“Since there are no artificial luge tracks… in the southern hemisphere my off season training mostly consists of working out.

“Now that I’m back studying I’ve got a bit more time so I’ll be in the gym at least five times a week training to build as much muscle as possible.”

Hunter made the decision last year to only compete in national competitions as he did not have the time and money to do both at an international level.