The hidden gems that make Stöten work

When the rest of Stöten are still fast asleep in their warm beds, their working day begins. Because behind Stöten's sparkling winter backdrop is a team that keeps the wheels turning - literally. The mechanics Teddy Österblom and Daniel Wetterhorn are two of Stöten's mechanics who make sure everything works properly.

- We're the ones people don't really know exist, but without us there would be no lifts spinning, no snow cannons running and no snow groomers rolling," says Teddy with a smile.

Teddy and Daniel have become something of a radar pair in Stöten. They are often seen together on their snowmobiles and the dynamic between them is hard to miss. While Teddy is in his third season as a mechanic, Daniel is in his first, but they've been friends for a lot longer than that - they met when Teddy was working on the lift and Daniel was shaking drinks in the bar at Brasseriet years ago.

- I had no professional experience at all when I started working as a mechanic. I worked in the catering industry before, but I applied and got the chance," says Daniel.

“Busy all day”

A normal working day usually starts at 06:30 for Stöten's mechanics. The day starts with a quick briefing on which lifts to check and who does what. Then they hop on their scooters and head out into the mountains - often in pairs.

- "We start by making sure all the lifts are running properly. We check the wheels, brakes, oil levels and test all emergency stops," says Teddy.

If something goes wrong, it should be fixed immediately. It could be anything from a jammed lift wheel to an emergency stop that needs replacing.

- Sometimes it's busy all day with lots of things to do, while some days nothing happens. I like it when there's a lot going on, but of course you appreciate the quiet moments when you can have an ice cream in the sun too," Daniel laughs.

No two days are the same

Stöten's mechanics are at their busiest during the summer months - from the day after we close for the season to the day before we open for the next one. Everything has to be checked and prepared for a new winter. Both Teddy and Daniel also work as snow ploughs, which means that autumn is a busy period for them, to say the least. Once the winter season starts, the job is more like a day job.

- It can ring at any time of day. We always have the two-way radio with us, so if someone shouts “mechanic, come”, we can just go straight away," explains Daniel.

- No two days are the same and you never know what will happen during a shift, but that's what makes the job so much fun, Teddy adds.

Wind is often the cause of problems

One of the main tasks of the mechanics is to decide whether a lift can be operated or not. Safety always comes first and they would never allow a lift to operate unless it was completely safe for guests to be transported in it. If a lift stops, it is usually the wind that is the culprit.

- In strong winds, the direction of the wind is crucial. If the wind blows too hard from the side, for example, the lift can derail and the cable can end up out of position. We don't take that risk, mainly for the safety of the guests, of course, but also to ensure that the lift is healthy and durable," explains Daniel, and Teddy agrees:

- "We don't want to close the lifts, so it's always sad when it turns out to be necessary," says Teddy.

Keeping lifts healthy and functioning well

Both Teddy and Daniel are part of Stöten's evacuation team (which you can read more about HERE!) and in their years on the team they have never had to carry out a live evacuation. In fact, it has never happened in Stöten's 50 years - which really attests to the fact that the mechanics do a great job of keeping the lifts healthy and running smoothly.

Without them, the plant stands still

With their black overalls, helmets and big snowmobiles, the guys feel much more anonymous than their colleagues in colourful ski suits, and they are often invisible to guests. The mechanics work behind the scenes, toiling in secret to keep the ski centre running. We're very grateful for that - because without them, the mountain would stand still.