Josh Fogo (15), of Naseby, and Jack Leslie (16), of Christchurch, have been competing in the Natural Track Luge World Cup series in Europe.
Last weekend saw them compete in the third world cup race, finishing 22nd and 36th respectively in a field of 46 at Passeier, Italy. It was their second race of the competition. They missed the first by choosing to have Christmas in New Zealand.
New Zealand Olympic Luge Association president Geoff Balme said Fogo did not have the best of races.
He crashed on the final corner of his last run and had to be carried off the track after crossing the finishing line.
''I've got a really sore thigh, will have a day off training and then work more on making my turns with my feet only,'' Fogo said. He sits 37th in the overall world cup standings.
Leslie, meanwhile, continued his improvement by collecting his third top 25 career finish.
''I had an OK race with a good qualifying time which I then improved on in the race.
''My skills are improving and I was much faster on this track than I was last year.
''I need to back myself to go faster around the tighter corners to continue to improve,'' he said.
He sits 25th out of 54 in the overall world cup standings. The race was won by 2012 Naseby luge track coach Patrick Pigneter, of Italy, who now leads the overall world cup standings, with 2013 Naseby luge track coach Adam Jedrzejko (Poland) in 14th place. The next race takes place this weekend in Umhausen, Austria.
The teenagers both trained with Jedrzejko on the Naseby luge track during winter last year but poor weather meant it was a short season.
They also trained with Pigneter the year before and raced in Italy and Austria this time last year. Then, Fogo finished 35th and Leslie 36th out of a field of 50 luge racers from 20 countries.
