Visit by the Ski Austria head coaches to Tyrolit: Insights into innovative production processes

Two weeks before the start of the new World Cup season in Sölden, the Head of Alpine Sports, Herbert Mandl, the head coaches of the women's and men's teams, Roland Assinger and Marko Pfeifer, and the head of service technicians, Christian Greber, took the opportunity to visit Tyrolit, a long-standing ÖSV sponsor and technology partner of the Austrian Ski Association.

You know them – the caps and hats with the blue logo on the heads of the Ski Austria trainers and service technicians. After many years of good and close cooperation, it was time for the ÖSV team to take a look behind the scenes at the Tyrolit site in Schwaz.

During a tour of the plant with Michael Weis, Head of Corporate Communication at Tyrolit, the coaches experienced the production of cutting discs and grinding tools up close – from the ideal composition and mixing of the different ‘abrasive grains’ to the ‘baking’ in the large ovens. Pfeifer & Co. was particularly interested in the production of those abrasives that are used for the base grinding of racing skis.

Tyrolit plant tour 1
Tyrolit plant tour 2
Ski Austria and Tyrolit Executives
expert talk

Thomas Friess, CEO Tyrolit:

Tyrolit and the Austrian Ski Association have been partners for many years, and our relationship goes far beyond that of a traditional sponsor-sponsored relationship. After all, business and professional sports have many parallels – it's about trust, courage, commitment and, above all, passion. We are very happy about the visit of the ÖSV coaches and wish them a good, successful and, above all, injury-free season!

Matthias Kuprian, Member of the Executive Board at Tyrolit:

We are very proud of this partnership – also knowing that the ÖSV athletes are competing with skis that have been processed with our Tyrolit products and with which many Olympic gold medals have already been won. I myself sit in front of the TV at many races, rooting for the team. All the best for the coming season!

Herbert Mandl, Head of Alpine Sports, ÖSV:

For every association, it is extremely important to have good partners at your side. With Tyrolit, we have this at all levels. Their expertise, skills and products in the field of surface treatment of ski bases and racing surfaces not only benefit our athletes, but all active winter sportsmen and women. It was fascinating to see how the manufacturing processes work here today.

Marco Pfeifer, ÖSV Head Coach Men's Alpine:

Personally, I now have a completely different relationship with my Tyrolit cap. I would not have thought how complex the production of the grinding stones is and also how much manual work it requires.

Christian Greber, ÖSV Chief of Service:

Our service people deal with the subject of grinding every day. But it is quite another thing to see the science that goes into the grinding tools for structuring the ski bases. It was also exciting for me to learn how different compositions and manufacturing processes affect the end result on the ski bases.