Collaboration with the Austrian Ski Federation. Youth development work together with the German Ski Federation. A new revolutionary ice-cutting blade. Upcoming major projects in Europe and Asia. Peter Riedel is looking back to the Winter 2012/13 pleased, and is looking to the future full of beans.

Peter Riedel, a long, exciting world cup season of the ski jumpers and the Nordic combiners has come to an end. What were you most happy about?

This is difficult to answer. There have been so many highlights, that I can only name them all: the exceeding of Nykänen’s record by Gregor Schlierenzauer, who has already achieved 50 victories by now, the Nations Cup triumph of the Norwegians in ski jumping, the three WC gold medals of Jason Lamy Chappuis, the world cup overall victory of my fellow countryman Eric Frenzel in Nordic Combined. And so on.

Also for your company, the passed months were crowned by success throughout…

… In this context, I am especially pleased that the Peter Riedel GmbH has become the partner and equipment supplier of the Austrian Ski Federation. The negotiations were long, but successful in the end, and I am looking forward to the collaboration with the innovation department of the ASF, which is led by Toni Giger.

But when I look back, then I also think about how good our new ice-cutting blade technology has proven on Ski-Line jumps, and how it brought more safety into the realisation of the jumping events for the organisers. Even pouring rain could not harm our tracks, and we could increase the inrun speeds in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Trondheim by 1.5 and 3.5 km/h respectively. That is, so to speak, a world record!

What I am also happy about was the collaboration with the German Ski Federation in the field of youth development work. Our K4 ski jump was used in summer 2012 in Warmensteinach, and in 2013 during the tour in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and later in Willingen, respectively. The mobile K6 facility was already as well, and within the next weeks, it will receive the GSF certificate.

Had there been less pleasant moments for you?

Well, the COC final of the ski jumpers in Nizhny Tagil in Russia did not proceed as planned. Due to current fluctuations and power blackouts, the Ski-Line track defrosted uncontrolled for days. Thank God, there was an alternative, the summer track, which was ready for use immediately. In this way, we can look back to a successful test, but it is also clear that incidents like this must not repeat. In this respect, we are in close contact with the Russian ski jump operators and those responsible at the FIS!

Success means commitment. What is next?

At first, I want to point out how much we appreciate the cooperation with ski jump operators and institutions. It is good that in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Trondheim, Courchevel and other places, people who rely on our know-how are at work. Important is also the support of the national ski federations and of the International Ski Federation, and their confidence in the Ski-Line product.

It is these partners and clients of us who encourage me personally to induce improvements on existing products and to develop new technologies. For sure, we have not yet exhausted the maximum of innovations! Still in this year, a great number of project launches is pending. For example, we are going to erect an ultra-modern science jump in Oberwiesenthal, in close proximity to our company headquarters. We are active in Austria, where four ski jumps are being built, as well as in Japan.

It is foreseeable that our “track-in-track” system (meaning a combined winter and summer track) will be able follow the successful course of “double-track” (meaning two tracks arranged in parallel, one for winter, one for summer). And the sole summer tracks are still adapted to the needs of our customers; and in the near future, a completely revised product will be launched in the market.

We also want to set new standards in the cost effectiveness and in the energy efficiency. And presently, we are extending our storage and the machine park.

But I want to repeat once more: if we create new know-how, as in the ice-cutting blade technology for example, it can only be used successfully if the development and application chain fits. Without our partner REHAU, without my personnel in the production and in the management, without the helpers at the ski jumps, without the different other partner companies and suppliers, our products would not be created and they would not be applied correctly. Therefore, at this place, thanks to everybody!

And now, going on holiday?

Easter holiday yes, apart from that, certainly not! Our production for the different projects is running at full blast. Besides, my company celebrates its 20th anniversary, and at the 15th Four Hills Tournament for children between June and September – in Hinzenbach, Bischofshofen, Reit im Winkö and Berchtesgaden – the Peter Riedel GmbH and the REHAU AG will be the main sponsors… And the summer Grand Prix is also just around the corner already, where we will be involved in Hinzenbach und Courchevel. After the season is before the season, especially for us!

Thank you very much for the interview and best wishes for continued success!