As of: February 20, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Christof Schnürer
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Bright future: Bernhard Kröll is confident about the upcoming summer training.
© Peter Kornatz
Biathletes are allowed to shoot and skate again on the Hoher Brendten - after consultation with the Bundeswehr.
“It’s a really great thing,” says base coach Bernhard Kröll from Krün.
Mittenwald
– For decades, biathletes like Magdalena Neuner, Martina Beck and Laura Dahlmeier were able to prepare for the winter competition season on the Hoher Brendten in the summer.
Then the hammer came out of nowhere in the spring of 2021: At the insistence of the Bavarian State Command, the Bundeswehr's Mittenwald training area was rededicated from a military area to a military security area.
The consequence of this tightening was that it suddenly became noticeably more difficult for the Werdenfels base manager Bernhard Kröll's training groups to regularly use the scooter track and the shooting range between May and October.
But for the supporters of competitive sports, the dark clouds have recently cleared again - a thaw on the Hohen Brendten.
At least that is what emerges from the arrangement between the Bundeswehr and the German Ski Association.
In the shared use agreement with the DSV, training and competition preparation are initially regulated until July 31, 2025.
“The contract can be extended by the DSV up to twice by one year each time to a maximum of four years upon request, thus providing security for the important aspect of promoting competitive sport in the district until mid-2027,” says a press release Mountain and winter combat school.
Their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Eike Gudat, is the so-called site elder and is responsible for the training area on the Hoher Brendten.
We are very grateful to the Bundeswehr.
Base coach Bernhard Kröll
Those responsible at the Karwendel barracks also make it clear that the agreement is only temporary: “From our perspective, an alternative solution should be obtained from the DSV as quickly as possible, since, as already described in 2021, the on-site training area does not represent a 100 percent solution for both sides. “
Nevertheless, there is great relief in the town hall.
“I’m really happy,” says Mayor Enrico Corongiu.
“Everything went well.” The base coach is of course also satisfied.
“We are very grateful to the Bundeswehr,” emphasizes Bernhard Kröll, who still has to go to Seefeld in Tyrol with his protégés in the summer.
From May to October, Kröll and Co. can always go to the training area if the Bundeswehr has given permission.
In other words: “If there are no soldiers on foot or motorized on the site,” explains Kröll.
Krüner estimates that training can be carried out in the military security area around three times a week for three hours each.
Previously this was possible 12 to 15 times during this period.
Nevertheless, the coach from Krün, who, for example, trained Magdalena Neuner from Wallgau into a world-class athlete, is satisfied with the agreement.
Because it is also “a financial matter” to always switch to the casino arena in Seefeld.
Kröll am Brendten also appreciates the challenging terrain profile - an ideal preparation location for future world champions and Olympic champions.
Regardless, the rules of the game for civilians in general have not changed on the Hoher Brendten.
The general conditions for driving and entering the military security area remain in force.
Violation would have criminal consequences, according to the press release from the site's eldest.
“It still remains the case that leaving the marked hiking trails cannot be permitted for safety reasons.” All of this must also be seen against the background of the much-cited turning point.
“An intensive dialogue with representatives of the military and civilian population is essential and, above all, unavoidable.” Agreements, regulations and understanding for Bundeswehr projects and exercises throughout the district “with a certain, but subordinate, compatibility for fellow users will continue to take place and on a cooperative basis “handled over,” promise those in charge of the Mittenwald Mountain and Winter Combat School.