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Small ski resorts that operate without artificial snowmaking only open once enough natural snow has fallen. That demands a great deal of flexibility, dedication, and passion from those who run them. One of these people is Michael Krinner, 49, a cadastral technician from Wolfratshausen. Together with two colleagues, he runs the small Ötzlifte ski area near Kochel as a side project. We meet him at the lift hut to talk about his love for skiing, his connection to his home region, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from keeping something alive that others might have long given up on.
Conrad Magazine: How did you become a ski lift operator?
The lift was built in 1969 by the Heuß company from Geretsried. The original owner ran it for 30 years, until 1999. By then, the lift was fully depreciated, and he wanted to stop for age reasons. Two of my current colleagues worked for Heuß back then and helped operate the lift in winter. They wanted to keep it going and asked around to find others who might join them, including me. That’s how we started working together in 1999.
Did you already have a personal connection to the ski area back then?
Yes, I actually learned to ski here. Later, as a teenager, I worked as a lift attendant at the top stations, just like many kids from our generation did. That was also our motivation to keep the lift alive: we wanted to preserve something that shaped our childhood.
For the children from Kochel and the surrounding villages, this ski area is the easiest and most affordable way to learn skiing, no long drives, no expensive tickets. Parents drop their kids off in the morning, they ski all day, and get picked up in the evening. It’s a meeting place, a little piece of freedom. The kids can even ski through the woods off-piste. That sense of freedom is what excites them most.
Who comes to the Ötzlifte ski area today?
Mostly families with younger children taking their first turns. But we also get lots of visitors from Munich and nearby towns on weekends. When there’s fresh snow and sunshine, we’ll easily have 300 to 400 people here.
What kind of work does running the Ötzlifte actually involve?
Preparations for the season start in November. We take down the pasture fences, service the equipment, change the oil on our two snow groomers, and hang the T-bar grips. Every year, one of the lifts is inspected by the TÜV (Technical Inspection Association), including a complete cable check. That means that, in rotation, all the grips on one lift have to be removed each year. After that, it’s just a matter of waiting for winter to arrive. Usually, it comes quite suddenly, we get one day’s notice, and by the next, we have to be ready to open.
Once there’s enough snow, we start grooming the slopes, putting up road signs, and advertising in nearby communities. We also contact local schools, and they usually respond quickly to organize a winter sports day, they know our ski season can be over just as fast as it begins. The first two or three days are always stressful, especially for me, since I also handle all the administrative and accounting tasks. During that time, I work 12 to 15 hours a day.
The Ötzlifte also includes a small mountain hut, run by two women who lease it from us. They, too, have to react at a moment’s notice when the snow finally comes and stock up supplies. In the 2023/24 season, we managed eight operating days and 300 working hours, plus around 100 hours for preparation and wrap-up.
Running a lift like this requires a lot of dedication. What do you get in return?
It’s just wonderful to watch the kids learn to ski and how quickly they pick it up. And it’s great that they can do so without their parents having to drive all the way to Austria. Winter is simply a special time up here. Everyone meets at the lift — even older locals who don’t ski anymore come by to chat in the hut.
For the kids, the best part is skiing all day and then having sausages together afterward. There’s a lot of personal initiative involved in what we do, but the skiers appreciate it. When people notice that things are financially tight, some even start small fundraising campaigns, or they make sure to come every single day we’re open. That kind of support makes all the effort worthwhile.
At a small T-bar lift, there must also be some entertaining — or challenging — moments, right?
Oh yes, especially at the beginning! It can be tough for parents when their little ones are still learning. They have to grab the tow rope, hold the child between their legs, and pull both of them up the hill — that really works the arms. Nobody does that for more than an hour or two. Usually, it’s the gloves that give up first, or the parents! (laughs) But the kids improve quickly. It’s always fun to watch them racing each other, who gets down faster, who sprays more snow — it’s part of the charm.
How have lift ticket prices changed over the years?
Back in 2003, a day ticket cost 10 €, and a half-day ticket was 7.50 €. Last season, in 2024, they were 25 € and 18 €. Roughly every five years, we’ve raised prices by about 20–25%. Our operation is financed entirely through ticket sales, and we have fixed annual costs of around 4,500 €.
We also have to plan for “off winters,” when there simply isn’t enough snow — that’s becoming more frequent due to climate change. In the winters of 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22, we couldn’t open at all. Those years were really tough financially, and we only managed thanks to support from the local municipality.
How long do you plan to keep the lift running?
As long as the snow conditions allow it — and as long as the three of us still have the time and energy to do it.
What would you say to people about supporting small ski areas like yours?
Skiing in small areas is more affordable than in big resorts. Plus, the atmosphere is personal and friendly — guests actually meet us lift operators, and there’s always time for a quick chat. Kids can learn to ski easily and safely, without much effort. And for the community, small ski areas are more than just a place to ski — they’re a social meeting point, a place where generations come together.
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