
Built on the location of the main battlefield for the Tyrolean battle of Independence, the ski jump was first used in competition in 1927. The longest jump that year - 47.5 m (155.8 ft.). Five years later, after a full reconstruction, jumping resumed again, and this time the longest jump measured 74 m (242.7 ft.)...But two of the most important dates in the Bergisel's history are 1964 and 1976 when the winter Olympics were held on this very hill. It was the first time that the same city hosted the Winter Olympics. And the sport was really taking off (pun intended) and the longest jumps in those years respectively measured 118 m (387 ft) and 126 m (413.3 ft). Quite the 'jump' in length from the official start of the sport 40 years before (yes, pun intended, again).
In 2001, a new stadium was constructed and won the Austrian State Prize for Architecture. With a world famous ski jump and a 50m high tower that allows for 360° views of the area, you can also have lunch at the top, hanging over the abyss below. Maybe that is a bit melodramatic, but it sure felt like we would be suspended precariously over the edge when we got up there. I mean, look at that overhang they call a restaurant...
But we had a few minutes to kill before the funicular was back to pick us up, so I took some time to climb the stairs and look around the stadium. I went up to get a better look at the Olympic rings -
and the cauldrons that held the official flames of both games (and the Youth Olympics in 2012)
I came back down and learned a little about ski jumping itself and what all of the markings meant...
They are hard to see in the picture above, but the blue line (top left corner) marks the beginning of the steepest part of the landing at 37°. The red line (just under the blue line) is called the K- point. It marks a jump of 120 m and is worth 60 points. For each meter +/- the K-point, points are awarded/subtracted from the baseline of 60. You could now at least score ski jumping - but would you have the guts to do it?
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The funicular takes you to this base level. |
I think you can see it a bit better in the picture below - look at that fold - the fold that holds all of the markings that were in the picture above that actually showed how far the skier jumped.

The views were worth it. Though I did breathe a sigh of relief when we were finally on solid ground again.
We said our final see-you-laters. It's probably going to be awhile until we see the S family again. They are heading back to the U.S. in June. We are just so lucky that we have had the last few years with them here in Europe. Here is to the next time we meet - at your gorgeous new home in the states! Until then, may the memories always make you smile!
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