With passion back at the New Year Jump

I’m standing up here again in Partenkirchen, and every time I glance at the hill, it feels a bit like coming home. I’ve been missed in recent years - all the more joyful to be back this year for the New Year Jump and to be able to take on the Track maintenance responsibility. A task that is close to my heart and that of my team.

When the morning is still cold and the snow crunches under our boots, the real work begins for us. The track is far more than just an ice trough in which the ski jumpers accelerate. It is the result of experience, feeling, and precision. Temperature, humidity, and snow crystal structure— all of it plays a role. The track profile must be clean and evenly milled, because every millimeter counts.

We bring our knowledge from many years of work with snow and ice to Garmisch: How does the track react to increasing sunlight? When does maintenance need to be done again? These are questions that accompany me and my team—and that we have been answering successfully with passion for almost two decades.

What especially pleases me is the teamwork, everyone pulling in the same direction. Knowing that my work at the starting ramp gives athletes safety and helps them realize their full potential puts a smile on our faces. When a jump goes perfectly, we know: the track has contributed its (small) part.

Being here again after the longer break feels really good. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the New Year Jump, the hill—we work with the same care and enthusiasm as always on the track. Because in the end it’s about creating the best and above all fair conditions from the first to the last jumper. Only then are truly great jumps possible.

With that in mind, I wish you all a good jump into the new year!

Kind regards from Garmisch

Your Peter