Marty Friedenau lives a totally different life in the winter than in the summer. When the skiers have left he sits all day in his "Schreinerei" to make his artistic and remarkable souvenirs, which he sells to tourists both in the winter and in the summer. In fact he is the only person in the village to sell such souvenirs and he wants to keep it this way. Of course skiers can buy some souvenirs in Nena and Conrad Birkholz’s ski shop, but it is only Marty who produces things really belonging to the region

His colleague, Wilhelmus Ratinger, who every one calls "Wilhelmus der Förster", and with whom he regularly goes into the woods to search for good pieces of wood, is more specialised in house building, pillars, hearths and furniture. Marty prefers to work on a small scale, based on the shape of the wood, using gouges and small chisels, files and even knives. He makes deer’s’ antlers, trolls, miniature houses and snowmen.

But in the winter he leaves the selling over to his son Hermann. Marty lives alone with the boy and they are like two peas in a pod, not only their character but also there appearance. Marty skied as a child, could actually ski before he could walk, and for this reason in the winter he is the best ski instructor in the whole of Schneewald. Nena Birkholz is proud of him, not only because of his skill as a skier, but also because of his angelic patience when on the mountain side explaining the movements to beginners. But after the lesson he is to be found in the café/restaurant of Aldo Ramsbeck with his students. Here he allows himself to be honoured as the great ski master and thoroughly enjoys it. His son Herman is gradually becoming old enough to take over the job of ski instructor from his father.