Oberwiesenthaler Schanze opens for operation

• Preparation of the take-off slope delayed
• First test jumps just before Christmas
• Modernization of the jump facility to be continued in spring

RASCHAU/OBERWIESENTHAL – Just in time for Christmas, the jump facilities on the Fichtelberg went into operation this week. Since the end of October, the launch lane system set up by Peter Riedel GmbH has been completed and ice tracks laid, but problems with the take-off slope delayed the operation.

Not only the relatively mild weather of the previous winter season posed challenges for Oberwiesenthal athletes, but also the departure of some snow nets further delayed active jumping.

In the last two weeks, however, many diligent helpers worked to ensure that the ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes can finally conduct the eagerly awaited test and training jumps before Christmas. Since yesterday evening, preparations are now complete thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers; the first test jumps are scheduled for today.

Athletes from Oberwiesenthal as well as Klingenthal are using the local conditions today to train for the first time on the new ice path of the hill. Although the handover of the take-off lane to the town happened on November 21, the jump facilities are not yet completely finished: only in spring will the project be fully completed after snowmelt, to be ready in time for the Northern Cup of the Nordic Combined summer Grand Prix in Oberwiesenthal, armed with one of the most modern hills.

For now, the focus is on winter, because with the new jump facility there are first-class training conditions for Saxony’s local stars like Eric Frenzel or Richard Freitag.

For optimal preparation for Sochi, certainly an important factor to consider.