The Sled Maker from Absam
These days, in the world of work, the rule is often: the more unusual, the better. Stefan Prantner doesn’t go along with that. He has chosen a ‘dying’ trade: he is a toboggan maker. And he had the right instinct: craftsmanship is more popular today than ever before.
Luge is all the rage: this winter sport has been a popular pastime for the whole family for some time now. So it seems almost strange that the number of genuine luge manufacturers in Tyrol can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Stefan Prantner is one of them. The Absam native has luge-making in his blood: he is the fifth generation to run the family business, which was founded in 1859. “You can’t learn to be a toboggan maker these days. The trade evolved from cartwrighting, but there’s no need for cartwrights nowadays. That’s why I first trained as a joiner and then learnt toboggan-making from my father.”
At Rodelbau Prantner in Absam, the whole family still works together today: the son and father build the toboggans, whilst the mother paints and covers them. A genuine Tyrolean craft business that produces only one-off pieces.
Authentic Tyrolean craftsmanship
To make Prantner sledges, individual pieces have to be cut out of five-centimetre-thick sections. “I produce around 200 sledges a year; I have to make one sledge a day.” Piecework? Not at all. “We don’t produce cheap, mass-produced toboggans, but rather one-off pieces that are easy to steer and handle,” says Stefan. Prantner Rodel in Absam manufactures classic toboggans for children, teenagers and adults, as well as sports toboggans and exclusive bespoke designs. Prices for such a handcrafted piece start at 100 euros; bespoke designs and high-tech models can cost up to 400 euros. The toboggans are available exclusively directly from the workshop in Absam or online.
An insider’s tip on tobogganing from an expert
Does a toboggan maker enjoy tobogganing himself? “Yes, of course!” says Stefan firmly. His favourite place to go is the run behind his house, in the Halltal. Known for its wild and romantic landscape, this natural toboggan run north of Hall in Tyrol follows the Halltalbach stream all the way up to the Sankt Magdalena inn. The climb of just over 500 metres in altitude stretches over a distance of 4.5 kilometres. You should allow about an hour and a half for the ascent. But be warned: with a gradient of eleven per cent, the toboggan run in the Halltal valley in the Hall-Wattens region is one of the faster runs.
“You can go really fast by adopting a flat posture, leaning back slightly,” reveals Stefan. “You can steer the sledge particularly well by pulling and pushing.” If a bend is in sight, it’s best to slow down just before it and steer by shifting your weight and applying pull and push to the runners.
Sled maintenance: How to make your sled last longer
“A sledge will last over 40 years if looked after properly. It’s important to look after the runners. We fit stainless-steel runners, but it’s advisable to dry and wax steel or iron runners after use.” Ski wax, applied with a sponge, is ideal, for example. As well as maintenance, there’s another rule every tobogganer should know: safety! “It starts right from the climb up: don’t walk side by side and don’t stop in places where visibility is poor, such as before bends. Always wear sturdy footwear and carry a light, as well as a helmet and ski goggles.” That way, nothing stands in the way of tobogganing fun.
Sledging fun in the Hall-Wattens region
There are a wide variety of tobogganing opportunities in the region. And, of course, there are plenty of other winter activities too. You can find an overview on our Winter Activities homepage. So bring on the snow!