Ski area on Kranzberg opens: heat is the biggest enemy
Created: 12/23/2022, 5:00 p.m
By: Josef Hornsteiner
Fighting a lack of snow: so far, Klaus Wurmer has only been able to make artificial snow for four nights in his Kranzberg ski area.
The warm temperatures cause him difficulties.
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Skiing has started on the Kranzberg in Mittenwald - but only if the weather cooperates.
In addition, energy prices will double from January 1, 2023.
Mittenwald – Klaus Wurmer takes it easy.
Nothing else is left to him.
"The weather is not in your hands," says the operator of the ski area on the Kranzberg in Mittenwald.
"There's just nothing you can do about it." Of course, the upcoming warm temperatures are driving worry lines into his face.
Ironically, over the important Christmas holidays, it should be mild.
Bad news for ski resort operators.
On Thursday, Wurmer (Döchele) put the large lift, the children's lift and the children's park on Luttensee into operation.
When the conditions are sufficient for the other lifts is completely open due to the weather.
It has to be cold.
Below minus three degrees.
"Then we can produce snow." So far, however, this has only been the case for four nights.
And since it was already nine degrees plus again on Tuesday evening, the prognosis does not look rosy.
Klaus Wurmer has been following the news constantly: war, corona and the energy crisis worry him
The preparations for this year's season were different than usual. Wurmer has never followed the global news as often as this year.
“Corona, war, energy crisis.
All of this affects us, too,” he says.
Especially the latter.
Wurmer sat down with Matthias Pöll, head of Karwendelenergie (KEW) Mittenwald and Wurmer's longtime energy supplier.
"The price of electricity has risen massively." In December he already pays a large sum.
From January 1, 2023, the price of electricity will double.
"Then we have to see what the federal government's energy price brake brings."
He has to save.
Even then, he has no other choice.
There will be less snow than in previous winters, hoping for lots of natural snow.
"But we are in lively exchange with the ski clubs," says Wurmer, himself chairman of SC Mittenwald.
He wants to guarantee the training especially for the youngsters and make enough snow so that the athletes can ski.
"It shouldn't fail because of that."
Despite everything, Wumer remains an optimist
Despite everything, Wurmer is an optimist.
He believes in his ski area with around 30 employees in the ski area and in the gastronomy - despite the lack of staff, warm temperatures and the explosion in energy prices.
He even invested heavily over the summer.
Skiers now have greater utility.
"It's now possible to buy tickets by the hour." That makes the system more flexible.
For example, it is possible to buy a four-hour ticket at 10 a.m. that is valid until 2 p.m.
"The guests even save something there."
No sooner had the first snow fallen than the touring skiers started flocking towards the Kranzberg summit.
"I couldn't have prepared the slope there at the moment because everything had collapsed." Touring has become a trend sport par excellence, especially since the Corona pandemic.
"They go in front of you, next to and behind the snow groomers," complains Wurmer.
Every day he hopes that nothing will happen.
Barriers or warning signs don't help much.
Anyone who would like to find out about the current opening and operating times should do so on the ski area's homepage at www.skiparadies-kranzberg.de
