Sport in the natural environment

Stefan Ortner: LO.LA stands for local location and the aim of LO.LA is to make local knowledge sustainably usable. The company's fields of activity are diverse. On the one hand, we are a "producer" of digital tools for safety management in the Alpine region. Our digital tools enable those responsible for safety in alpine infrastructures to design their processes, but the official avalanche warning services also work with our tools by providing their local experts with LO.LA tools for digital input in the terrain. In addition to digital tools, the training of local experts is another area of service. Especially in winter, LO.LA experts are on the road as trainers to train avalanche commissions of alpine critical infrastructures and to combine local knowledge with state-of-the-art methods. The LO.LA range of services is rounded off by activities in research & development, in the education of young people and children and in the design of a small, fine LO.LA store, where all kinds of tools are made available for work as a local expert in safety management.

Stefan Ortner: The collaboration with LO.LA is uncomplicated and simple. Many authorities (such as all avalanche warning services in Austria, the avalanche warning service in Bavaria and the avalanche warning service in South Tyrol), many companies from the Alpine tourism sector (mainly mountain railroads and tourism associations) and the main infrastructure operators such as ÖBB work with us. In addition to these, LO.LA maintains a strong network with the scientific community, companies in the tourism industry, but also NGOs and educational institutions such as schools are part of the LO.LA network.

Climate change is changing the mountain region. We are also changing ourselves. Therefore, adaptation must be seen on both levels. Alpine sports enthusiasts need to strengthen their skills. Weather and natural hazards are becoming more unpredictable and often more intense. But user behavior on the mountain has also increased and our interaction on the mountain is being put to the test and we ourselves must also take this momentum of danger into account.

Stefan Ortner: Conflicts of use on the mountain are real. In winter, conflicts arise between ski tourers vs. piste skiers, ski tourers vs. tobogganists, freeriders vs. tobogganists,... In summer between bikers vs. hikers,... But it's not just between users that conflicts are on the agenda. Nature, and the rules that have been drawn up for nature, are not fully accepted by all users. Violations of quiet zones, protected areas,... are just as popular and are unfortunately often a major source of conflict.

Stefan Ortner: The Alpine region as a cultural space for us humans will change just as much as we have to change. But we definitely have to adapt more than nature adapts to us. We have to understand and accept that. We will have to learn that renunciation will be an essential element, as well as the fact that we have to define our alpine spaces, where we want to "live out" our alpine culture and where are quiet spaces for nature. This is still far from an ideal solution. We all need to sharpen our senses and focus on this.