Audi 2011 Annual Report Download - page 62

The four aluminum
rings adorn the tips of
the Audi Carbon Ski.
Carbon fi ber specialist Max-Herbert Wagner (left) and Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the
Audi Group, fused high-tech materials and a progressive design language in the Audi Carbon Ski.
yet it had much greater torsional
strength. In early 2011, at the
famous Hahnenkamm downhill race
in Kitzbühel, Austria, this model was
introduced to its new target group:
serious recreational skiers. “The
response was overwhelming,” recalls
Torsten Slawinski, project manager
for the Audi Carbon Ski: “Everyone was
after our 30 prototypes.”
But what will the “Herminator” say
about the production ski? As though
skiing on rails, Hermann Maier – skiing
on a pair of short 170 centimeter race
carvers – cuts fast, long curves on the
slope, then a series of short arcs with
radically tight turns. All of the turns
are cut cleanly in the snow with the
edges, without even a hint of side slip.
It was impressive to see how extremely
Hermann Maier leans into each turn –
so deep that his ski glove on the inside
of the curve brushes the snow while
turning. He grimaces – in an expression
of maximum concentration and power.
Maier always gives 100 percent; he
cannot do otherwise.
But even for someone like Maier, this
extreme lean on turns will only succeed
if the ski can hold its edge at the
crucial moment and not slip sideways,
even under strong pressure. “Especially
when you ski with power, it is better
if the ski is stiff er and does not twist
much,” Hermann Maier explains to
me as we share a lift ride together.
“And that is very apparent,” continues
the former top ski racer, “because
the carbon shell gives the ski added
spring.” “Is it the right ski for normal
skiers?” I want to know. “Absolutely,”
replies the skiing star. “On a groomed
slope, it’s really easy to ski with.” As
a fi nal check before the next descent,
Maier examines the ski bottoms and
edges, and strokes the fi ne fi nish of
the ski surface approvingly.
It was actually the ski’s visual
appearance that took the most time
in the fi nal project phase. “First, we
tried normal paint,” says carbon fi ber
specialist Max-Herbert Wagner, “but it
was completely scratched after just a
few ski runs.” Then, a special paint was
developed which protects the valuable
carbon and resists scratching, yet lets
the fi ber structure of the material
shimmer through. When the ski is
turned in the light, the carbon fi bers
inside the ski are exceptionally vivid
in appearance – almost 3D. At the tip,
where Audi rings made of aluminum
are precisely inserted as inlays, the
ski has a sophisticated carbon look
in combination with the lightweight
metal. This successful detail too reveals
that design chief Wolfgang Egger is
already contemplating many more
projects for Audi Design: The Audi
Carbon Ski is just the beginning.
“Did all the eff ort of the designers
pay off ?” That is what I wanted to know
after my day of skiing with the former
overall World Cup champion and ski
world champion. “The ski’s running
characteristics are impressive. The
skier really notices the high torsional
rigidity produced by the carbon,” de-
scribes Hermann Maier. “It makes the
skis livelier, more agile and gives them
better tracking stability. They are really
fantastic on well-groomed slopes be-
cause the skis are very forgiving.” And
then a broad grin fi lls his face: “You feel
like a world champion on them.”
Full power: Join Hermann Maier –
the “Herminator” – on his test run
with the new Audi Carbon Ski.