Sport technology
Ramsau takes its stride: Franz-Josef Rehrl opens the new launch track
Ramsau am Dachstein sets another sign for Nordic sport: The new launch run at the ski jumping center is finished and has now officially been handed over to its purpose.
For Franz-Josef Rehrl it was not an ordinary workday. The Ramsau athlete was allowed to become the first jumper on the new approach line of his home hill and officially inaugurate it with his jump. For the Nordic combined athlete, the modernization mainly means another improvement of training conditions right at his doorstep.
“For me, it is certainly something special to be allowed to make the first jump on the new track of my home hill. The first jump was still a bit unfamiliar, but one thing I felt right away: the track really has great takeoff! We train and jump in the World Cup almost exclusively on Riedel launch tracks. The old track here in Ramsau was very narrow and somewhat unfamiliar compared to modern facilities. Now we also have conditions at home like those we know from many World Cup hills. This substantially raises the value of my hometown as a training center,” says Franz-Josef Rehrl.
Another advantage is the possibility to train under winter conditions even earlier in autumn. “Especially for us athletes this is incredibly valuable. Even if I am already getting older and won’t benefit from it for too long. For the Nachwuchs, it is gold,” says the three-time father with a wink.
From the first talks to the opening jump
Behind the new launch track lies a long history. Talks and planning between the municipality of Ramsau am Dachstein, the state of Styria and Peter Riedel began as early as 2018. In the summer of 2026 the project could finally be implemented.
In doing so, care was taken to preserve the special character of the hill. The approximately 90-meter-long approach is among the steepest in international comparison. The new track was built at the same site as its predecessor, the radius and characteristics of the hill remained unchanged.
For Mayor Hannes Uttinger the completion is therefore also an important signal for the future of the sports location.
“After many years of planning, I am particularly pleased that we can now actually inaugurate the new launch track. The project shows the high priority of Nordic sport for Ramsau and the entire region,” says Uttinger. “Ramsau is known nationally and internationally as a training and competition venue. We want to consolidate this significance and expand it further. To do so, we must also provide our athletes with the appropriate infrastructure.”
Long-standing connection with Ramsau
Also for track builders Peter Riedel the completion is a special moment. “When you consider that the first discussions already took place in 2018, it is of course nice to see Franz-Josef actually jumping on the finished track now,” says Peter Riedel. “Ramsau is not new territory for us. We have been working with the training center here for a long time and have gained a lot of experience with our test track in recent years. All the more, I am pleased that we could successfully complete this joint project now.”
Technically, Ramsau uses the Mastertrack system from Peter Riedel GmbH, which is now installed on a wide range of ski jumping facilities worldwide. The combination of summer and cooled winter track enables a long training period and conditions like those athletes know from international competition venues.
With the first jump by Franz-Josef Rehrl, the new track is now officially opened—and Ramsau takes on a new launch, in the truest sense of the word.