Maestros in the cockpit
OC Chief Michael Huber calls them “true maestros.” Streif Piste Chief Herbert Hauser recently expressed his deep gratitude for their efforts, saying: “Your work is fundamental to our success.” They are both referring to the skilled snow groomer operators from KitzSki. Three of whom were on duty on Saturday, including Markus Osl. It is a “dream job” for the man from Kirchberg.
It may have been freezing cold on Mount Hahnenkamm on Saturday, but it was beautiful. Conditions like these are great for preparations both on and off the racecourse. Drivers of the snow groomers that prepare the Streif and Ganslern slopes are also pretty cool. After all, the precision required to steer equipment weighing up to 15 tonnes with over 600 horsepower demands not only nerves of steel, but also an 11-millimetre-thick steel cable, from which the piste groomer is suspended when the terrain is particularly steep. The Starthang, Mausefalle, Steilhang and Traverse sections can only be prepared, namely, when the grooming machinery is attached to a cable winch. Only the most experienced drivers are deployed here (with at least 3,000 hours in “winch work” experience) and this includes seven specialists employed by the Bergbahn Kitzbühel Cable Car Co. One of whom is Markus Osl, and he was busy both tamping down and removing fresh now from the Karussell Curve and Steilhang sections. Up to 15 centimetres of fresh snow fell in the upper section from Thursday to Friday. “Today’s task is to work the remaining new snow into the surface. We’ll make sure to clear it away completely from the race line,” explains Markus Osl. Three drivers were on duty on Saturday between the Starthang, Seidlalm and Traverse sections. “Today, we are basically fine-tuning the course,” he says. If the weather plays ball, you probably won’t see these bright red wonders of technology again until the end of the Race Week (20th to 26th January).
This is unfortunate for the man from Kirchberg, because working with the piste machine is “a dream job, one that not everyone can do.” He works as a mechanic in summer and has been working at KitzSki for 30 years in winter, the last 20 of which have been spent grooming the Streif and his favourite section, the Traverse: “It is simply the greatest challenge, in terms of steepness and terrain. It’s not that easy to groom the Traverse, or move snow from A to B.” Nevertheless, it’s a skill than anyone can learn. “You acquire a certain feeling for it,” says Markus Osl modestly. That being said, experience is also an advantage.
He doesn’t know yet where he will be watching the races this year. Maybe amongst the fans at the finish line, maybe in front of the TV. “I might even be sitting in the snowcat cockpit ten minutes before the start of the race, you never know.” Markus Osl also sits on a machine in summer. However, this one is a little more manoeuvrable, lighter and faster as he speeds through the Alps on his motorbike, cruising between Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
Photo © K.S.C./alpinguin
