Innsbruck | Munich

EXTREME – a motto that promises thrills, excitement and fun! Just two days earlier, we found out where our training would take us, and now the time has finally come. We set off in two VW buses, still a little tired but in good spirits. First stop: the design festival at the paper manufacturer Gmund. In the paper factory, which has been specially cleared for this event, we are greeted by impressive paper figures, clever packaging, a showroom with all the winners of the Gmund Award 2019 and even a sofa design to match the Gmund colours! The possibilities for using Gmund paper seem endless to us. Some of us are even particularly brave, because there are tattoos! – Well, they’re not quite real, but at least they’re a really stylish temporary souvenir. Particularly impressive, however, are the inspiring talks by the guest speakers, each with their own unique story and a very personal appeal to the audience. After all kinds of delicious pasta, hot dogs, cakes and more, another special highlight of the day awaits us: a guided tour of the Gmund paper production facility. From paper pulp to the final inspection of each individual sheet, we learn (almost) everything about the processes in the factory. Just imagine, the paper machine has been running since the end of the 19th century! Second stop: Innsbruck. Surrounded by magnificent mountain landscapes, we arrive at the Nala Hotel in the heart of Innsbruck with many impressions in our luggage. Admittedly, a toilet directly behind the television is something else, but it is precisely because of its crazy design that we are so enthusiastic about the Nala Hotel. Breakfast at a dizzying height? No problem for us, the next morning we take the lift up to the Bergisel ski jump. A fabulous breakfast buffet awaits us at the Bergisel Café, and while we feast, we watch the young ski jumpers take off into the air – really cool! Thomas Thurnbichler, former ski jumper and now coach of the junior team, later gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes of ski jumping. Our very own test of courage is sitting on the infamous wobbly beam, and the feeling of absolute freedom makes us understand the euphoria for this sport. Of course, we are only minimally irritated by the view of the cemetery directly behind us. But all is well – everyone returns safely and we are already looking forward to the next guided tour on the architecture and history of the ski jump. In bright sunshine, we learn more about Zaha Hadid, the architect, but also about the historical background of the ski jump. However, Innsbruck would not be Innsbruck if we had not all seen the golden roof, so we set off on a tour of exploration before heading to Munich.
Last stop: Munich. Could it get any better? Oh yes! After freshening up, we head to the Olympic Tower for dinner. 181 metres above the ground, the rotating floor gives us a 360° view of Munich, and the incredibly delicious vegan menu also contributes to making this evening unforgettable. Once again, time flies by far too quickly and the last morning of our training course begins in the quaint and cosy Café Marais. After paninis, scrambled eggs and coffee, we move on to the next highlight, a tour of the Olympic site. Our tour guide Dennis gives us insights and interesting background information on the construction of the entire site. We are blown away when we learn that the Olympic Stadium was built more or less on a “lucky guess” and yet it is still standing today – unbelievable but true! It is so stable that we can even continue our tour on the roof of the stadium. Secured with climbing harnesses and helmets, we climb onto the roof and are rewarded with an incredible view over Munich and far beyond. From a height of over 50 metres, we are allowed to abseil down, which requires us to summon all our courage, keep our bodies tense and not look down! But little by little, we gain confidence in our harnesses and, just a few moments later, each and every one of us is floating above the stadium – a breathtaking feeling. After all that adrenaline, we are glad to have solid ground under our feet again and explore Munich at dusk, enjoying a few delicacies before we make our way home to Stuttgart. Our conclusion: EXTREMELY interesting, EXTREMELY enriching, EXTREMELY exciting, EXTREMELY delicious, EXTREMELY grateful! 

Patricia Bischof