“Thanks to all our partners!”

Partnership with the Austrian Ski Association. Joint Nachwuchsarbeit with the German Ski Association. A new revolutionary ice blade. Major projects in Europe and Asia ahead. Peter Riedel looks back with satisfaction on the winter 2012/13 and forward to the future with energy.

Peter Riedel, a long, exciting World Cup season for ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes came to an end. What did you enjoy most?

That is hard to answer. There have been so many highlights that I can only list them: surpassing the Nykänen record by Gregor Schlierenzauer, who has now reached 50 wins, the Nation Cup triumph of the Norwegians in ski jumping, Jason Lamy Chappuis' three World Championship gold medals, the World Cup overall win of my close compatriot Eric Frenzel in Nordic combined. And so on.

For your company, too, the past months were consistently crowned with successes…

… what especially pleases me in this context is that Peter Riedel GmbH has become a partner and supplier to the Austrian Ski Association. The negotiations were long but ultimately successful, and I look forward to working with the ÖSV's Innovation department led by Toni Giger.

But when I look back, I also think about how well our new ice blade technology has proven on Ski-Jump hills and brought more safety to the organizers during the events. Even pouring rain couldn't spoil our tracks, and we were able to increase approach speeds in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Trondheim by 1.5 and 3.5 km/h respectively. That is, if you will, a world record!

What also pleased me a lot was the collaboration with the German Ski Association in the area of youth development. Our K4 hill was in use in Warmensteinach in summer 2012, and in 2013 during the Tour in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and later in Willingen. The mobile K6 facility has also been built and will receive DSV certification in the coming weeks.

Have there also been less pleasant moments for you?

Well, the COC final for ski jumpers in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, did not go as hoped. Due to power fluctuations and outages, the Ski-Line track thawed uncontrollably for days. Fortunately there was an alternative—the summer track—that was ready for use immediately. Thus we can look back on a successful test, but it is also clear that incidents like these must not happen again. We are in close contact with the Russian hill operators and FIS officials on this matter!

Success obliges. What comes next?

First of all, I want to emphasize how much we value the cooperation with hill operators and institutions. It is wonderful that in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Trondheim, Courchevel and elsewhere people are at work who rely on our know-how. Also important is the support of the national ski associations and the International Ski Federation, whose trust in the Ski-Line product is crucial.

These partners and clients are what personally spur me to bring improvements to existing products and to develop new technologies. We have certainly not exhausted the maximum of innovations yet! This year will see a multitude of project starts. For example, we will erect a state-of-the-art science jump in Oberwiesenthal, near our headquarters. We operate in Austria, where four hills are being built, and in Japan.

It is anticipated that our 'Track-in-Track' system (a combined winter-summer track) will be able to take the success path of 'Double-Track' (two parallel tracks, one for winter, one for summer). And pure summer tracks will continue to be adapted to our customers' needs; a fully redesigned product will be launched in this area soon.

We also want to set new standards in efficiency and energy performance, and currently we are expanding our inventory and machine fleet.

But I want to repeat: when we create new know-how, such as in ice blade technology, it can only be used successfully if the development and application chain fits. Without our partner REHAU, without my production and administrative staff, without the supervisors on the hills, and without the various other partner companies and suppliers, our products would not come into being and be used properly. So, thanks to everyone!

And now, off on vacation?

Easter vacation yes, otherwise certainly not! Our production is running at full speed for the various projects. Additionally, my company will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the summer, and during the 15th Kids’ Four Hills Tour between June and September—in Hinzenbach, Bischofshofen, Reit im Winkel and Berchtesgaden—the Peter Riedel GmbH and the REHAU AG are principal sponsors… And the Summer Grand Prix is just around the corner, where we are involved in Hinzenbach and Courchevel. After the season is before the season, especially for us!

Thank you for the conversation and continued success!