“Permit me, Wolfgang Riedel, Track Manager”
Anyone who thinks that producing and installing a start track on the ski jumping hill is the end of the Peter Riedel GmbH’s work and that of its partner Rehau is severely mistaken. Under certain aspects, it can be said that the work only begins – because every installation needs to be nurtured and maintained. This is why company owner Peter Riedel travels constantly to inspect installations and, together with the organizers and the International Ski Federation, also to further develop them.
Now one of the absolute highlights of this year's Ski Jump Grand Prix is taking place this weekend. In Hinzenbach, Upper Austria, the world elite meets for the second time, and as in the previous year the crowd will be boiling. Thousands of ski jump enthusiasts cheered the Austrian and international stars, and it will be no different in a few days.
So it would be really stupid if there were problems with the track, right?! Therefore the track gets its own manager - Wolfgang Riedel. He will arrive on Thursday, meet with the hill operator to discuss procedures and details, and then will devote his undivided attention to the approach until Sunday. “The goal is that the track must be in perfect condition,” says Riedel. “Therefore I check the plastic-ceramic studs to ensure ideal glide, clean the track after training of any wax residues – this is done with a special cleaning agent and by hand. I check the water lines for irrigation of the track and monitor them visually during the competition. For example, if leaves or branches fall into the track, they will be removed on the jury’s instruction.”
Since the completion and handover of the hill in Hinzenbach, a maintenance service has been provided for three years by Peter Riedel GmbH from the Erzgebirge. “This also naturally applies to all other hills worldwide that have been equipped with Ski-Line,” explains Peter Riedel. “And these are increasingly becoming more and more!”