Ramsau Test Rail: An era comes to an end

The roots of this idea go back far: as early as 1974 my father Eberhard dealt with optimizing takeoff speed as part of his diploma thesis and conducted around 900 trials on a specially constructed test track in Oberwiesenthal—almost four decades before his son picked up these considerations in Ramsau and developed them technically further.

100-meter approach, speeds of up to 90 km/h, and state-of-the-art measuring technology made the facility a unique test lab for the nordic elite sport. What initially was mainly intended to prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi developed into a long-term success story.

Under Mario Stecher, the collaboration with the Austrian Ski Association was successfully continued. Over the years, numerous ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes used the facility to specifically work on their approach mechanics and to test different materials, ski bases, and waxes. At the same time, the test rail provided valuable data and insights that directly fed into the further development of the Riedel takeoff rail systems. The results of this long-standing development work remain visible in Ramsau. With the new takeoff rail on the hill, this technology is now in use—developed and refined for many years on the neighboring test facility. From research and development, it has become practical application.

For us, the dismantling therefore means not only the end of a special project but also the successful completion of a lengthy development effort. The test track has fulfilled its mission and contributed significantly to the technical advancement of Nordic sports. Ramsau will continue to be an important site in the company's international portfolio with the new takeoff rail.

And for the test track itself, a second life begins. The dismantled facility will be overhauled and then prepared for a new deployment. For the fourth time, Peter Riedel Sports Technology enables an existing takeoff rail to be used a second time. Reusing proven technology is not only a matter of cost-effectiveness but also a sign of responsible handling of materials and resources.

What remains are memories of an extraordinary project, countless test runs, and above all a successful partnership. Special thanks go to all who have accompanied and supported this development since 2013—especially those responsible for and employees of the Austrian Ski Association.

The era of the test rail in Ramsau has come to an end. Its traces remain—in the technology, in the insights gained, and on the ski jumping hills of this world.