“Skijump hills, everywhere”

Ski jumpers deserve the best possible workplaces, says Peter Riedel

Peter Riedel, the World Cup series of ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes have recently started – how do you, as an expert in this field, follow these series?
“Extremely interested, of course. I come from a sports-successful family, which is why I grew up with sport in general. My field of activity in hill construction, specifically: in the realization and further development of approach tracks and approach-track systems, implies that I am more than a fan when the athletes leave the hill. I admire them and their aesthetics, and I see myself not only in but above all in their service.”

Ski jumping has become a year-round sport. Just after the Grand Prix ends, winter begins. And in-between, athletes should train and adapt – even the run-in tracks are not the same in summer and winter...
Well, I am certainly the wrong man to answer whether too much or too little is jumped... What I know - and what also corresponds to the intention of Peter Riedel GmbH and its partner REHAU - is that I want to provide ski jumpers with the best possible workplaces. They should come to venues where they find conditions that enable clean and safe action. We work very closely with the International Ski Federation, the national ski associations, and the organizers on site. We must never forget who we represent: the main actors – the jumpers! I am proud that our run-in-track systems have a very good reputation, and that it is very easy for hill operators to convert from summer to winter.

To put it a little provocatively – aren't there too many hills in the world?
Ski jumping is a great, fascinating sport, an indispensable main attraction in winter, drawing hundreds of thousands to the stadiums and millions in front of the TV. Thus, ski jumping is also a business, and in business the iron rule of supply and demand still applies. But I want to go a bit further here. When considering the number of ski jumping hills, we should not only focus on those hosting a World Cup or Continental Cup. Nachwuchs needs hills, and these are not the K120 or K90 facilities. These are K60, K40, K20, and even smaller. Our transportable K4 facility is FIS- and TÜV-approved and offers both larger and smaller enthusiasts the chance to try jumping themselves! And in Austrian Montafon, we will assist in the construction of three Nachwuchs hills in 2013. Therefore: there can never be too many hills – because ski jumping will always be a topic as long as there are ski jumpers. And FIS Race Director Walter Hofer himself says: ski jumping is currently as popular as never before!

They have laid run-in tracks at prominent hill complexes, for example in Trondheim, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Tchaikovski, Hinzenbach, Chaux-Neuve. What percentage of the market do you own? And what projects do you have in the pipeline for 2013?
It is not my cup of tea to talk about market shares. We must always keep in mind that we operate in a niche. Sure – there are ski jumping hills everywhere, but many do not need or want modernization, others lack financial resources, and again others have modernization planned in a few years. Therefore it is a day-by-day business. I walk through the ski jumping world with open eyes and ears, fully aware that I am not the only one. There are competitors who also understand their craft. And therefore my principle is: only talk about a contract when it is already in the bag.

In any case, it seems that in 2013 you were set to be involved in the modernization of the Fichtelberg ski jump right on your doorstep in Oberwiesenthal...
... and the signs really look good. If this actually comes to pass, this project will certainly be my most emotional. Because working near one's own home is always a matter close to the heart!

Many thanks for the conversation, and good luck in the winter 2012/13

Read during the Four Hills Tournament: 
Peter Riedel and his prestige project Garmisch-Partenkirchen