Vikersund is building a modern future

VIKERSUND – It lies. And it flies – at the highest level. Just in time before the Ski Flying World Cup in Vikersund, the Erzgebirge-based Peter Riedel GmbH installed and tested the new approach track on the Vikersundbakken within a record time of two construction weeks and one installation week. 

From March 17 to 19, the Norwegian equivalent of the Four Hills Tournament, the newly introduced “Raw Air” series with a total of six competitions in Oslo, Lillehammer, Trondheim and finally Vikersund, will end here at the world’s largest ski jump. After Peter Riedel GmbH has been successfully supporting the World Cup in Trondheim for over ten years, the Norwegians also trusted the German expertise for the upgrade of the Vikersund hill. “Unlike other companies, our modern technology allows us to build even in snow and ice in winter. In February we installed our track at temperatures as low as -17°C,” explains managing director Peter Riedel. “But since we’ve built in Russia at as low as -37°C, that didn’t dampen my team’s motivation,” he adds with a wink.

Full service for Vikersund

The track is not the only thing the Saxon team is responsible for in Vikersund. In addition to delivering the starting block system, the FIS advertising board and a lighter, lower, multifunctional new ice cutter development, the organizing committee and hill sponsor have also concluded a long-term service contract that will guarantee the Norwegians further knowledge and technology transfer in the coming years. “A gigantic thank you to the organizing committee in Vikersund for the trust and great support. We have worked together superbly since the project began, and we can proudly say that they’ve already built their future today!”, says Peter Riedel.

New records possible

“With this hill one can rightly say: it can’t get any bigger!”, says Peter Riedel. With an approach length of 132 meters and a hill record of 251.5 meters, the dimensions of the so-called “Monster Bakkens” hill are oversized – and even eleven meters longer than the ski flying hill at Kulm, which was outfitted by Peter Riedel GmbH last winter. The new design of the “New Generation” line is intended to enable even higher speeds and distances at Vikersund with a new take-off angle of 10.5 degrees – without endangering the athletes. “We know that with this new quality of our track, new records in speed and distance are possible, but we don’t want to achieve this at all costs; above all, we want to guarantee the athletes’ safety,” assures Peter Riedel. 

For Peter Riedel GmbH, but also for the Norwegians, this week in March will be unique; the new technology, as well as visits by the Crown Prince in Trondheim and the King in Vikersund, will send important messages regarding a Trondheim bid for the World Championship.