On time before Ski Flying World Championship 2016

RASCHAU – For 4.2 million euros, last year the state of Styria and the Republic of Austria had the famous Kulm rebuilt. The cult facility of the ski flying in Bad Mittendorf was adapted to the requirements of the FIS over eight months – but then the ski flying World Cup in January showed that the glide path was far too high and too risky for ski jumpers.

To be prepared for the Ski Flying World Championship in January 2016, the Kulm was rebuilt once more. The forward section was slightly moved back and the lane was converted to the ice lane requested by the FIS. To meet federation requirements, a new, innovative track was needed that can withstand harsher weather conditions and also accounts for the approach speeds of a ski jump.

For an Erzgebirge native, this project fulfilled a dream: Peter Riedel GmbH from Raschau in Saxony won the tender for the new lane layout at the legendary hill. 'We have left our mark all over the world, but a ski jump and Kulm – that’s a whole different league!' says Managing Director Peter Riedel with joy. 'In a facility of this kind, prestige to build on a ski jump takes a back seat. To ensure athletes have a safe approach, the track must meet the technological challenge, being qualitatively excellent and not becoming too fast even with top wax and skis. Previously, these speed tracks demanded by the FIS were tested only up to an approach length of 105m, but we are confident that the approach at Kulm with this retrofit will be better and safer. The notorious Kulm kink in the radius, for which the hill boss Jürgen Winkler was held responsible every year, is finally a thing of the past. The joint goal was and remains not to set new records at Kulm but to ensure the safety of the jumpers!'

The most important criterion of the tender was, besides quality and safety, the time factor. The contract was awarded in mid-October, already in a few weeks, from January 14–17, the best ski jumpers in the world will fly in Bad Mitterndorf for medals. 'Of course, this is a mammoth project, but we are professionally set up to handle it within the given time. You don’t get a chance like this twice – to retrofit the Kulm, and before a World Championship – who could say no?' says Riedel.

At the end of November the work is completed – that is a record construction time of not quite seven weeks for a ski jump.