Did you know that in the Norwegian capital they love Ski Jump? Do you want to learn about this extreme sport? Keep reading! Here we will tell you everything you need to know about Ski Jump, and also about Holmenkollen, where its most important event is held.
145 years ago the first Norwegian took off from a hill, catapulting into the sky, creating a sport that would spread across the world and captivate millions. Today, Oslo remains the capital of Ski Jump, which has held annual competitions at Holmenkollen since 1892.
Holmenkollbakken is a large ski hill, located in Holmenkollen. Along with Wimbledon and Wembley, this is one of the most visited sports complexes in the world.
Holmenkollen was the cradle of the evolution of Ski Jump, and its facility was redesigned some twenty times. The history of its construction is almost a record of the progress of the discipline.
Today this stadium is home to some of the most popular winter sporting events, including the Holmenkollen Ski Festival.
In its early years, Ski Jump was simpler than it is today. In the beginning, Holmenkollen was made up of a natural hill, with a ramp of snow and tree branches. Little by little, the jump developed.
As time progressed, the sport became more and more famous. Just like the inrun, where skiers begin their descent, it was built in a way that allowed them to jump even higher.
In 1952, Oslo hosted the Winter Olympics. So the arena was upgraded with a taller tower, which included an elevator for the athletes. In addition, permanent stands for spectators were installed, as well as special seats for the judges and the Norwegian Royal Family.
At that time, a record was reached that remains to this day, in terms of the number of viewers. Between 120,000 and 150,000 people watched the competition.
By the time the 1962 World Championships were held, the Holmenkollen ski slope had already acquired its characteristic architectural profile.
Back then, female athletes were beginning to gain access to ski jumping, although they were not yet allowed to officially compete. In 1974, Anita Wold became the first woman to jump at Holmenkollen, making an inaugural test jump at that year’s ski festival.
The Holmenkollen Ski Museum, located below the famous ski jump, is the oldest of its kind in the world. It is an exhibition with 2,500 pairs of skis, some of which belonged to the most famous skiers in Norway, as well as members of the Royal Family.
In addition, the 4,000-year history of skiing is on display, and artifacts from the expeditions of Norwegian polar heroes Nansen and Amundsen. There is also an exhibition on snowboarding and modern skiing.
For children, there is a special room called Blåkollen, or The Blue Hill. There are slides, playhouses and many corners for them to explore.
Likewise, it is possible to go up by elevator to the plateau of the iconic jump tower, to contemplate the wonderful panoramic views of the city.
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