Sports facilities already ready for winter
Earlier than expected, Oberhof's sports and leisure facilities are now in winter mode. At all locations—from Kanzlersgrund to Fallbachhang—the frosty temperatures have been consistently used to set the course for successful winter operations.
Winter has arrived in Oberhof, bringing with it a touch of winter sports atmosphere: while final preparations are still underway in many places, Oberhof's sports facilities are already in full operation. After the LOTTO Thüringen EISARENA has been reliably on ice since October 13 and the busy track team has already clocked up over 8,700 runs, winter training operations have now also picked up speed in the LOTTO Thüringen ARENA on the Rennsteig and on the normal hill in Kanzlersgrund. This means that Oberhof is well prepared for the 2025/26 winter season.
In the ARENA am Rennsteig, where preparations and extensive construction work for the upcoming January World Cups are also in full swing, the stored snow reserves were already being used last week.
To achieve this, technical snow generated by solar power from the snow storage hall on the edge of the LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-HALLE was used. The “crash ice” produced there, which is ideal for use as a base for cross-country trails, was used to cover the first sections of the trail with an 80-centimeter-thick layer. This method had proven itself in the previous year – the snow cover lasted for 113 training and competition days.
"The training tracks in the ARENA are now being gradually extended. The shooting ranges will be connected next week – immediately after the LED elements for the World Cup video walls and the shooting range have been integrated," explains Heiko Krause, technical operations manager of the Thuringian Winter Sports Center Association. At the same time, amateur athletes and active tourists are asked to use the public cross-country trails on the adjacent roller skating area. Information on current snow depths, open trails, and available winter hiking trails can be conveniently accessed via the free and regularly updated Thüringer Wald snow app. Regardless of the weather conditions, the LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-HALLE also offers optimal training conditions for top athletes and recreational athletes alike.
The LOTTO Thüringen ski jump facility in Kanzlersgrund is also right on schedule. After the ski jump team at the Thuringian Winter Sports Center carefully prepared the landing hill of the impressive facility with around 2,500 cubic meters of snow and got it ready for the coming weeks, official training and jumping on the normal hill (HS 100) was able to begin early Tuesday afternoon – earlier than planned and as the first ski jump facility in Central Europe.
Snow park opening on December 3
Fans of alpine winter sports, on the other hand, will still need to be patient. The LOTTO Thüringen SNOWPARK will be open from Wednesday to Sunday during the first two weeks of December, before the facility will be available for skiing and snowboarding throughout the season from December 15, weather permitting. “With more than 20,000 cubic meters of snow, it is extremely important not to rush, but to proceed with caution and sustainability. Safety and a clearly marked slope are our top priorities. Nevertheless, we are starting the season very early on December 3,” explains deputy operations manager Marcus König. “Many people are already looking forward to it. However, to ensure that this anticipation remains unclouded, we are deliberately appealing to all our guests to only use the designated slopes.”
Getting ready for the January highlights
Preparations are also in full swing outside the Oberhof trails and slopes in Thuringia's winter sports stronghold. “We are currently well on schedule. After successfully completing our kick-off event for the Cross-Country and Combined World Cup, we are now looking forward to this coming Saturday, when we will be getting ready for the Biathlon World Cup with our hard-working helpers,” says head of organization Bernd Wernicke, adding: “Together with the Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Association, which is preparing for the last two Luge World Cups before the Winter Olympics, and the Thuringian Ski Association, we are looking forward to an extraordinary January 2026, many guests, and five unforgettable World Cup events here in Oberhof.”
Tickets for the AXA Winter Weeks – Thuringia 2026 and for all World Cups from January 8 to 25, 2026, are available both on site at the Haus des Gastes (Crawinkler Str. 2, 98559 Oberhof) and conveniently online at axa-winterwochen.de. (rk)
Photos: Snowmaking & LOTTO Thüringen ARENA am Rennsteig
Caption: With temperatures remaining below freezing, the nights were also used for snowmaking. Photo: Marcus König
Dressed in white: The LOTTO Thüringen ARENA am Rennsteig. Photo: Ronny Knoll