New "V-Edge" edge technology revolutionizes skiing in Arlberg
Arlberg is regarded as the cradle of Alpine skiing. New skiing techniques, the legendary ski club, the capabilities of cableway technology, and much more all have their roots here. The revolutionary "V-Edge" edge grinding from WINTERSTEIGER was extensively tested, enhanced, and ultimately introduced in the region in a world first.
The year 1885 saw the arrival of the first tourists here with the opening of the Arlberg railroad tunnel. The first skis arrived in the region 10 years later. At that time, they were nothing more than a novelty from Scandinavia. Priest Johann Müller from Warth had them delivered by mail and, to avoid being seen, legend has it that he tried skiing in his garden at night.
Another milestone came in 1901, when Ski-Club Arlberg was founded in St. Anton, going on to become one of the biggest and most successful ski clubs in the world. The first ski race took place in 1904 – without cableways, lifts, or groomed slopes. Ski pioneer Hannes Schneider is an Arlberg legend who opened Austria's first ski school in 1920. He introduced the "Arlberg technique" by replacing the one-pole skiing technique – which used one long stick for braking and steering – with 2 short poles. This new technique resulted in shorter turns and higher speeds, and proved a winner against the Norwegian technique.
Cableway technology also made history at Arlberg. In 1937, Austria's first ski lift was put into operation here along with the Galzigbahn, the first ropeway installation designed for winter. In 2004, the world's first heated chairlifts were launched. And the high point to date came in 2016 with the construction of the Flexenbahn, which connected all Arlberg communities with lifts and slopes. Ski Arlberg has become the biggest connected ski resort in Austria and is now one of the five biggest ski resorts in the world. Countless awards such as "World's Best Ski Resort", "5-Star Ski Resort", "Austria's Best Ski Resort", and more attest to the popularity and singularity of the region.
The next level in skiing.
Another first came in 2021 when "V-Edge", the latest grinding technology from WINTERSTEIGER AG – world market leader for ski service machines – arrived in the Arlberg region. Thanks to the new edge technology, skiers in search of perfect glide and control have found their answer. V-Edge stands for variable ski edge and means that the edge in the tip and tail of the ski is ground with different angles. By contrast, the angle in the middle (the ski binding area) is constant. The result is a combination of perfect edge grip and easy turning that make skiing considerably easier for everyone, from beginners to experienced pros.
New technology has to prove itself out in the real world. The Stanton Service Center in St. Anton, one of the biggest ski service workshops in the world, was an important development partner for WINTERSTEIGER. The company has been successfully working together with the Service Center to supply ski service machines for over a decade, with WINTERSTEIGER machines having been used to service over one million skis.
The team showed their pioneering spirit as they enthusiastically tested the new Jupiter ski servicing system and the revolutionary edge technology. And the results are in: “V-Edge works incredibly well! We've tried out a lot of things, ground different materials, and got outstanding feedback from the test skiers,” says Workshop Manager Stefan Schranz. V-Edge is available at leading sport stores in St. Anton. Skiers who rent their skis here benefit from the new edge technology and ascend to the next level of skiing. The technology and beauty behind skiing have always been at home in Arlberg and now V-Edge is continuing this century-long tradition.