Press release for Forum Nordicum 2019

Dear Sir or Madam, dear participants of Forum Nordicums 2019, dear Nordic family!

On the occasion of Forum Nordicum 2019 we would like to present to you the current company news from the past few months.

Avalanche damage to Kulm successfully Brought under control.

In the past winter 2019, large amounts of fresh snow delighted winter sports enthusiasts on the one hand, but also caused significant problems. Also at one of the world’s largest ski flying hills, the Kulm, an avalanche caused extensive damage to the approach.

According to calculations, it was around 600 cubic meters of snow whose weight severely damaged the approach. Peter Riedel GmbH had already installed the Master Track approach at Kulm; in this context, the Austrian Ski Association also commissioned the removal of the damage on the approach. Glass and steel bands as well as parts of the steel construction were renewed, and in the course of the damage repair the newly developed safety covers for the milling guide rails were installed. In mid-September, the FIS inspection took place, which gave the green light for use of the approach. From a construction-technical point of view, nothing stands in the way of a successful and, above all, safe ski flying at Kulm!“

Technical innovations from the Peter Riedel house

It is well known in the scene that Peter Riedel, besides his core business of track and ski-jump facility construction, does not tire of bringing technical innovations to the market. This year there are three innovations in the area of the run-up tracks.

#1: Clubtrack system now also with ice run

If a club, association or organizer previously wanted to convert to an ice run, they had to rely on a Mastertrack solution from Riedel. This world-cup-ready system often exceeds the budgets of those responsible. Therefore, Peter Riedel developed a completely new system last winter in which cooling is integrated into the more affordable Clubtrack run-up track. The newly developed cooling system enables even more efficient and economical operation. With the new product, clubs and associations can access a cost-saving variant of the ice run. In addition, the installed ice milling machine is equipped with an improved ice processing system, enabling even more accurate milling. Both the newly developed cooling and the milling machine meet the highest quality standards and were first installed this winter in Vikersund on the K65. The hill is thus the first in Norway that is runnable year-round and offers a comfortable training facility for athletes with the chairlift.

#2: New crack barrier adds more safety

The next innovation concerns the area next to the run-up track. Specifically, it is a new textile safety cover for the runway milling machine guides. The novel coverings run parallel to the run-up track over the guide rail and completely hide it. The new achievement was successfully installed for the first time this summer in Trondheim; Vikersund and Kulm followed. The system complies with a new FIS regulation stating that there must be no protrusions or gaps within the safety band. The new cover is at least 22 centimeters wide and has a double fabric layer, which is impact resistant and significantly increases skier safety in case of a fall on the approach. When installing the cover, the undercarriage of the winch must also be substantially widened to accommodate the new cover.

#3: New LED track lighting

The next development is the world's first mobile LED lighting system for ski jumping hills. LED light elements are laid either beside the run-up track or between the skier's legs. With this new system, the run-up track can be immersed in various organizer- or sponsor-colored hues to create a unique ambiance. There are no limits to color, the entire RGB color system can be represented. The control of the LEDs is variable and, if needed, can be linked with the start signal. From permanent lighting to flashing to a “follow” of the LED light behind the jumper in the run-up, various scenarios can be depicted. Through these additional lighting effects, the ski jumping experience for spectators on-site and on the home screen becomes even more intense and spectacular.

“For me, it is above all important that the lighting can stage the architecture of the jumps in a completely new way and visually offer the spectators something new. A pleasant side effect is that every organizer can tailor the lighting and color to their needs, sponsors, and other framework conditions,” says Peter Riedel.

The system can be easily installed in all approach-track systems either temporarily or as a permanent lighting tool.