The flying carpet?

No: Flying OVER the carpet! 

When the talk is about a new special carpet, and words like “jump” or “fly” are mentioned – then fairy tales seem to come true. 

But the mobile ramp “K4” from Peter Riedel is anything but a fairy tale. It is tangible at events across Europe. 

“The idea behind it is to excite children about ski jumping,” says company owner Peter Riedel. “And if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain – i.e., when children no longer come to the ramps, the mobile ramps come to the children…” 

Thus schools, kindergartens or event organizers in cities or at company celebrations book the “K4” as a ski-jump highlight for everyone. More importantly, because youth development is close to the hearts of national and international associations, the German and Austrian Ski Associations equipped the mobile K4 ramp with their certificates. “The TÜV inspection will also take place in July,” says Riedel, “then the ramp can be used as a sport and play device with a clear conscience. Safety in ski jumping, quality in manufacturing are the top priorities at Peter Riedel GmbH and at partner Rehau AG!” 

The first appearance of the “K4” is planned at the Rock AND Run event on July 22 in Warmensteinach, which is used by the German Ski Association (DSV) as the kickoff for youth development. Then the “K4” goes on a European tour, including the closing event of the Rehau Ski-Line Peter Riedel Children’s Jump Tour in Berchtesgaden in autumn, officially added to the ÖSV event calendar. In September there will also be an open house day at Peter Riedel GmbH, when the ramps will be available to everyone for the first time. This action was initiated by the Erzgebirge Ski Jump Support Association – of which Richard Freitag is also a member – and the Raschau municipality.

While a tour to promote ski jump youth development in Romania and Poland is close to finalization, one thing is fixed: the “K4” will attend the Four Hills Tournament at the turn of the year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen! A clear sign of how important youth work is to the International Ski Federation and its Race Director Walter Hofer. “Youth is important for the future of ski jumping,” Hofer says – a statement with universal validity and yet strong significance.

For the mobile ramp system of Peter Riedel GmbH, patent rights have been applied for – but that’s not all. For the first time this summer, a special carpet will be used in the approach area, developed by clever textile engineers in Saxony. The carpet consists of special synthetic fibers that, with the appropriate loop technology, could replace the traditional mat system in the future. The carpet is not only usable for ski jumping, but also in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and all types of Snow Tubing. It has already been successfully tested on the mobile “K4” as well as on a K8 ramp in Pöhla (GER) a few days ago.

Sounds like a fairy tale: simply roll out the carpet onto the ramps and jump or fly over it. And it is certainly more exciting than just sitting on it and being flown.