Ski Flying at Kulm!

Definitely one of the highlights of the year — the ski flying spectacle at Kulm! It’s not often visible that in ski jumping such a long-distance pursuit is opened and the Nordic ‘Lords of the Sky’ have such a long flight. Since 2015, when we erected the ice track at Kulm in Bad Mitterndorf, we have been carrying out the track service during ski flying at Kulm.

Time to share a few key facts about Kulm with you at home!

The inrun track at Kulm is 131 meters long and is roughly comparable to the embarkment length of Bischofshofen. However, Kulm differs by a significantly steeper inrun angle. The ice block is seven centimeters thick. Two channels are milled into it to guide the ski. The entire ice track is permanently cooled by an integrated cooling system to keep the temperature stable and prevent the ice block from melting. With a track milling machine, moved up and down by a winch, several longitudinal grooves are milled in both channels. They are necessary to allow rainwater to drain or, in case of snowfall, for the snow to accumulate there. On the other hand, this also prevents a disc-like effect and optimizes the glide properties.

We’ll be onsite all weekend with two men, supported additionally by volunteers from the organizing committee. On an almost 35-degree steep inrun, all work is of course done on belay. The FIS inspection of the track took place yesterday, and the final milling of the track is planned for today in the morning. Then nothing stands in the way of a cool ski-flying weekend!