V - The magazine of the VOLLMER Group - 2018

While he clamps a high-quality "Edea Ice Fly" figure skate, Klaus Ostermeier explains to us, in a calm voice and charming Munich dialect, what is important for the sharpening. "The hollow is important. When an athlete comes to me with his skate and I see how the hollow of the blade is ground, I know straight away what he does and what I have to do." He is happy to implement individual requests of his protégés, who often travel 200 km between two training sessions just to be served by Ostermeier. For the skaters Ostermeier is an important support, frequently a knight in shining armour and sometimes also a psychologist. The gentle and compassionate grinding expert explains: "For figure skaters the relationship between inward and outward edge is decisive. For a jump one athlete needs more inner edge, another athlete needs more outer edge. A short while ago one of my long-term customers came to me and said, I really have to grind in the loop jump again. I simply said, "sit down, girl, we have it". 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IN THE EASTERN PART OF MUNICH. All is quiet in the ice and fun sports centre on Staudingerstr. 17. In the summer months the urban ice rink is transformed into a roller skating rink. The ice sports world integrated in the sports centre is still open. We are greeted with a warm smile as we enter. From Gerti Schanderl-Ostermeier, who herself was a successful figure skater on the inter­ national scene in the 1970s. Apart from the purchase and rental of ice skates, all kinds of equipment and clothing, ice sports athletes receive one thing in particular: an exceptionally good grinding service. Klaus, who is lovingly called Zwackl by his wife Gerti, stands for hours at his grind- ing machine like he does every day. The order books are full. Also in the off-peak season. Klaus Ostermeier's working device doesn't look anything spectacular and has very little to do with an industrial grinding machine. Nevertheless, it is invalu­ able for professional athletes together with the Munich man's expert knowledge. "When I see how the hollow of the blade is ground, then I know straight away what the athlete does." In order to guarantee optimal grip, the blades of the professionals are up to 4.2 mm wider at the front than at the back. Specialist shop, rental and workshop: the Gerti Schanderl sports shop in Munich. 6 7 PERSPECTIVES