Vikersundbakken

Vikersundbakken or Vikersund Hill[1][2][3] is a ski flying hill at Vikersund in Modum, Norway. It is one of the two largest purpose-built ski flying hills in the world.[4] Nine world records have been set there, including the current record of 253.5 meters, set by Stefan Kraft.[5] The complex consists of a large hill, a normal hill and several training hills.

Vikersundbakken
LocationVikersund
Norway
Opened29 Jan 1936 (LH test)
16 Feb 1936 (LH official)
12 Mar 1966 (FH conver.)
Renovated1956, 1966, 1977, 1990, 2000, 2011
Size
K–point200 m
Hill size240 m
Longest jump
(unofficial / fall)
254 m (833 ft)*
Dimitry Vassiliev
(15 February 2015)
Hill record253.5 m (831.7 ft)
Stefan Kraft
(18 March 2017)
Top events
Ski Flying World Championships1977, 1990, 2000, 2012
World Cup1980, 1983, 1986, 1995,
1998, 2007, 2009, 2011,
2013, 2015, 2016

The hill originally constructed by Kristian Hovde was opened in 1936 as a large hill. It was rebuilt as ski flying hill in 1964, and was modified in 1989, 1999 and 2010. The present large hill was built in 1988. Vikersundbakken was the first ski flying hill to receive floodlights in 2006. It has hosted the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in 1977, 1990, 2000 and 2012.

History

In 1894, Vikersund SK was established and started with ski jumping. Until the 1930s, they used six different ski jumping hills around the area. By then, the club had fostered sufficiently good jumpers that it was proposed to build a proper hill. A committee was established on 19 March 1935 and led by Gustav N. Hovde. At first they found a suitable location north of Heggen. However, they failed to reach an agreement with the land owner. Instead, Hovde proposed using the steep hill close to Heggen Church. After purchasing the land, construction started later in 1935. The original hill was designed by Thunold Hansen. Construction cost 6,290 Norwegian krone (NOK), of which NOK 1000 was borrowed and the rest of financed through private donations.[6]

The first hill had a length from the top of the in-run to the bottom of the out-run of 425 meters (1,394 ft) and an elevation difference of 130 meters (430 ft). The in-run was 115 meters (377 ft) long and had an elevation difference of 46 meters (151 ft).[6] The hill was inaugurated on 29 January 1936 with a 50-meter jump by Birger Henriksen. The longest jump on the opening day was made by Reidar Andersen, who jumped 86 meters. At the most he was 10 to 12 meters (33 to 39 ft) above the landing slope, so the take-off was lowered 40 centimeters (16 in) from 6 to 11 degrees.[7]

The main logistical issue with the events was the poor transport service, with only a narrow road to the hill. During the 1950s, the attendance rose well beyond the former 5,000, forcing the road to be upgraded in 1955.[8] By the 1950s, ski jumps were being built larger and in 1954, Kristian Hovde proposed to expand Vikersundbakken, which he hoped would allow jumps of 100 meters (330 ft). The plans were passed by the club's annual meeting on 13 September, with construction starting in the summer of 1955. The lower part of the landing slope was dug down 1.75 meters (5 ft 9 in), the in-run was raised up to 85 centimeters (33 in) and a new jury tower and stairway was built. Additional expansion was passed on 27 April 1956: a 12-meter (39 ft) tall scaffolding in-run was built on top of the old in-run. The hill was designed by Carl Borgen. Contractors were Brødrene Teigen and since the club did not have sufficient funds, they were willing to wait with the payment until they had. The new hill was inaugurated on 10 March 1956.[9]

The new hill was too large to be regarded as a large hill, but was not large enough to be categorized as a ski flying hill. In 1964, the club appointed a committee led by Ottar Grøtterud to consider an expansion of the hill.[10] There was only to be built one ski flying hill in the Nordic Countries, with the main alternative being Renabakken in Rena.[11] Construction cost NOK 445,000 and was in part financed with a NOK 75,000 grant and NOK 150,000 loan from Modum Municipality, NOK 20,000 from volunteer work, NOK 80,000 from the club, grants from companies and banks and from Buskerud County Municipality, and NOK 100,000 in betting funds.[12] Construction was done by Entreprenør Gunnar Sterkebye. The hill received a new 23-meter (75 ft) tall in-run and a new jury tower 70 meters (230 ft) form the jump. On the landing slope and out-run, 200,000 cubic meters (7,100,000 cu ft) of earthwork had to be moved. Work was made more difficult because of high snowfall and temperatures down to −28 °C (−18 °F). The hill was inaugurated on 13 March 1966.[13]

The next upgrade of the venue were minor upgrades ahead of the 1977 World Championships.[13] Ahead of the 1990 World Championships, the venue was again renovated. However, to secure better recruitment, the venue also received a new normal hill with a K point of K-90.[14]

The hill was rebuilt for the 2012 Ski Flying World Championships. It was the first in the world with a hill size of 225 meters, making Vikersundbakken the largest ski flying hill in the world at the time. It has been built further into the terrain with sidewalls made of natural gravel to avoid wind problems during competitions. Furthermore, it has been slanted slightly to the south from the inrun area to further reduce wind problems. The hill was ready for the 2011 Trial Ski Flying World Championships held on 11–13 February 2011.

The old inrun was demolished in 2010. The engineers of the new and larger hill were Slovenians Janez Gorišek and his son Sebastjan. Janez, together with his brother Lado, is most famous for creating Letalnica Bratov Gorišek in Planica, previously the largest hill in the world at HS 215, before Vikersundbakken was reprofiled and enlarged in 2011. Janez is usually named as the 'father' of modern ski flying and is also known as an expert on ski flying hills.

At the trial ski flying championship, Johan Remen Evensen jumped 243 meters to set a new world record during the first official training on 11 February 2011. Later, during qualification, Evensen improved the world record to 246.5 meters.

During autumn 2011 the hill was further improved with a different radius at HS 225, increasing the ability to stand on greater lengths. Additionally the jump itself was cut a meter short because of decreased inrun speed needed by the jumpers. During the 2011 event, it was deemed necessary to add several inrun gates the hill below gate 1 due to better conditions not anticipated by the organisers during construction in 2010. A total of five gates were added. Gregor Schlierenzauer praised the hill during interviews, calling it the best hill in the world. Evensen was also extremely satisfied with the hill, calling it "perfect". The K point was increased from K-195 in 2012 to K-200 in time for the 2015 event,[15] resulting in two new world records on the same weekend: Peter Prevc jumped 250 m (820 ft) and became to first to ever surpass the 250 m mark, and this was followed by Anders Fannemel with 251.5 m (825 ft) the next day. In a training round prior to Fannemel's jump, Dimitry Vassiliev jumped 254 m (833 ft) but fell hard upon landing, rendered his jump invalid as a world record.

Events

Opened as large hill in 1936 and converted into flying hill in 1966.

Date Hillsize Competition Winner Second Third
LARGE HILL (original)
16 February 1936  OP Hilmar Myhra
1937  VIKC Reidar Andersen
1938  VIKC
1939  VIKC
1940  VIKC Reidar Andersen
17 February 1946  VIKC Arnholdt Kongsgård Reidar Andersen Vidar Lindboe-Hansen
9 March 1947  VIKC Thorleif Schjelderup Svein Haakonsen Hans Kaarstein
14 March 1948  VIKC Arnholdt Kongsgård Ivar Nilsen Christian Mohn
1949  VIKCcancelled
19 March 1950  VIKC Hans Bjørnstad Ivar Nilsen Birger Arnesen
18 February 1951  VIKC Kjell Knarvik Arne Hoel Reidar Andersen
2 March 1952  VIKC Arnfinn Bergmann Arne Hoel Svein Lien
8 March 1953  VIKC Georg Thrane Per Thyness Thorleif Schjelderup
28 February 1954  VIKC Asgeir Dølplads
3 April 1954  NRA
13 March 1955  VIKCwind; rescheduled to 26 March
26 March 1955  VIKC Arnfinn Karlstad Simon Slåttvik Erling Kroken
4 March 1956  VIKC Asbjørn Osnes
10 March 1957  VIKC Arne Hoel Simon Slåttvik Asbjørn Osnes
15 March 1958  VIKC
1 March 1959  VIKC Arne Hoel Odd A. Brevik Olinius Skaaret
27 March 1960  VIKC Markku Maatela Paavo Lukkariniemi Asbjørn Osnes
5 March 1961  VIKC Olinius Skaaret
4 March 1962  VIKC Asbjørn Osnes Pekka Remes Vesa Ekholm
10 March 1963  VIKC Torbjørn Yggeseth Torgeir Brandtzæg Raimo Vitikainen
8 March 1964  VIKC Toralf Engan Bjørn Wirkola Christoffer Selbekk
FLYING HILL (converted)
13 March 1966  VIKC Bjørn Wirkola Toralf Engan Christoffer Selbekk
11-12 March 1967  ISFW Reinhold Bachler Jiří Raška Bjørn Wirkola
10 March 1968  KOPstrong wind
8-9 March 1969  KOP Bjørn Wirkola Jiří Raška Zbyněk Hubač
27-28 February 1971  KOP Frithjof Prydz Zbyněk Hubač Bent Tomtum
11-18 February 1973  KOPlack of snow
22-23 February 1975  KOP Reinhold Bachler Hans Wallner Edi Federer
18 February 1977  K150SFWC Walter Steiner Anton Innauer Henry Glaß
29 February - 2 March 1980  K155WC Per Bergerud Stanisław Bobak Ján Tánczos
18 February 1983  K155WC Matti Nykänen Pavel Ploc Hans Wallner
19 February 1983  K155WC Matti Nykänen Horst Bulau Tuomo Ylipulli
20 February 1983  K155WC Matti Nykänen Olav Hansson Pavel Ploc
15 February 1986  K155WC Andreas Felder Matti Nykänen Piotr Fijas
16 February 1986  K155WC Andreas Felder Ernst Vettori Matti Nykänen
25 February 1990  K175SFWC Dieter Thoma Matti Nykänen Jens Weißflog
20 March 1993  K175WCcancelled
21 March 1993  K175WC
18 February 1995  K175WC Andreas Goldberger Takanobu Okabe Lasse Ottesen
19 February 1995  K175WC Andreas Goldberger Takanobu Okabe Roberto Cecon
28 February 1998  K175WCpostponed on next day
1 March 1998  K175WC Andreas Widhölzl Sven Hannawald Akira Higashi
1 March 1998  K175WC Takanobu Okabe Hiroya Saito Noriaki Kasai
12-13 February 2000  K185SFWCoriginal date; strong winds, postponed to 14 February
14 February 2000  K185SFWC Sven Hannawald Andreas Widhölzl Janne Ahonen
6 March 2004  K185CC Roland Müller Olav Magne Dønnem Balthasar Schneider
7 March 2004  K185CC Roland Müller Balthasar Schneider Martin Koch
13 January 2007  HS207WCcancelled
(night) 14 January 2007  HS207WC Anders Jacobsen Thomas Morgenstern Matti Hautamäki
(night) 14 March 2009  HS207WC-T  Austria
Martin Koch
Wolfgang Loitzl
Thomas Morgenstern
Gregor Schlierenzauer
 Finland
Matti Hautamäki
Kalle Keituri
Ville Larinto
Harri Olli
 Norway
Johan Remen Evensen
Bjørn Einar Romøren
Anders Bardal
Anders Jacobsen
15 March 2009  HS207WC Gregor Schlierenzauer Simon Ammann Dimitry Vassiliev
(night) 12 February 2011  HS225WC Gregor Schlierenzauer
Johan Remen Evensen
Simon Ammann
13 February 2011  HS225WC Gregor Schlierenzauer Johan Remen Evensen Adam Małysz
(night) 25 February 2012  HS225SFWC-I Robert Kranjec Rune Velta Martin Koch
26 February 2012  HS225SFWC-T  Austria
Thomas Morgenstern
Andreas Kofler
Gregor Schlierenzauer
Martin Koch
 Germany
Andreas Wank
Richard Freitag
Maximilian Mechler
Severin Freund
 Slovenia
Jernej Damjan
Jurij Tepeš
Jure Šinkovec
Robert Kranjec
(night) 26 February 2013  HS225WC Gregor Schlierenzauer Simon Ammann Robert Kranjec
27 February 2013  HS225WC Robert Kranjec Michael Neumayer Gregor Schlierenzauer
(night) 14 February 2015  HS225WC Peter Prevc Anders Fannemel Noriaki Kasai
15 February 2015  HS225WC Severin Freund Anders Fannemel Johann André Forfang
(night) 12 February 2016  HS225WC Robert Kranjec Kenneth Gangnes Noriaki Kasai
(night) 13 February 2016  HS225WC Peter Prevc Johann André Forfang Robert Kranjec
14 February 2016  HS225WC Peter Prevc Stefan Kraft Andreas Stjernen
17 March 2017  HS225WC/RA(Q)–prol Kamil Stoch Andreas Wellinger Domen Prevc
18 March 2017  HS225WC/RA–T  Norway
Daniel-André Tande
Robert Johansson
Johann André Forfang
Andreas Stjernen
 Poland
Piotr Żyła
Dawid Kubacki
Maciej Kot
Kamil Stoch
 Austria
Michael Hayböck
Manuel Fettner
Gregor Schlierenzauer
Stefan Kraft
19 March 2017  HS225WC/RA–I Kamil Stoch Noriaki Kasai Michael Hayböck
16 March 2018  HS240WC/RA(Q)–prol Kamil Stoch Robert Johansson Andreas Stjernen
17 March 2018  HS240WC/RA–T  Norway
Daniel-André Tande
Johann André Forfang
Andreas Stjernen
Robert Johansson
 Poland
Piotr Żyła
Stefan Hula Jr.
Dawid Kubacki
Kamil Stoch
 Slovenia
Domen Prevc
Jernej Damjan
Tilen Bartol
Peter Prevc
18 March 2018  HS240WC/RA–I Robert Johansson Andreas Stjernen Daniel-André Tande

The inaugural competition was held on 25 February 1936 in front of 5,000 spectators.[7] Hilmar Myhra won the race, setting the first official hill record at 86 meters (282 ft).[16] The hill was used for a single major competition each year, Vikersundrennet. Arnold Kongsgård beat the hill record in 1946 when he jumped 87.5 meters (287 ft) and then beat it with another meter two years later. The ultimate hill record in the original hill was 98 meters (322 ft), which was also a new Norwegian record, set by Arne Hoel in 1951.[17] After the opening of the new jump in 1957, Hoel set a new hill record of 100.5 meters (330 ft).[9] The following year, Asbjørn Osnes set a new hill record of 108.5 meters (356 ft) and then again in 1960 by Paavo Lukkariniemi of 116.5 meters (382 ft).[8]

On the first ski flying competition on 14 March 1966 saw Bjørn Wirkola set a new world record at 146 meters (479 ft).[13] Starting on 12 March 1967, the club introduced the International Ski Flying Week. The inaugural tournament was held on 12 March 1967[18] and saw Austria's Reinhold Bachler set a world record of 154 meters (505 ft). On 11 March 1968, the tournament was canceled due to strong winds, although 22,500 people had come to spectate.[19] In 1973, the International Ski Flying Week was canceled because of lack of snow.[13] On this hill were also two Continental Cup competitions in 2004 both won by Austrian Roland Müller.

In the late 1960s, the International Ski Federation (FIS) started planning a world championship in ski flying. The Norwegian Ski Federation was opposed to this.[20] Vikersundbakken was awarded the fourth FIS Ski Flying World Championships, held in 1977. Switzerland's Walter Steiner won the race, while Czechoslovakia's František Novák set a new hill record of 157 meters (515 ft). Vikersundbakken was used in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in 1980, 1983 and 1986.[21]

The normal hill was used for the Norwegian Ski Championships in 1989. As there was no snow, 3,000 cubic meters (110,000 cu ft) was freighted by train from Finse via the Bergen Line and up from Vikersund Station by truck.[22]

Hill record

Men

Date Length
February 1936   Hilmar Myhra85.0 m (279 ft)  
1946   Arnold Kongsgård87.5 m (287 ft)  
1948   Arnold Kongsgård88.5 m (290 ft)  
1951   Arne Hoel98.0 m (321 ft)  
1957   Arne Hoel100.5 m (330 ft)  
1958   Asbjørn Osnes108.5 m (356 ft)  
1960   Paavo Lukkariniemi116.5 m (382 ft)  
March 1966   Bjørn Wirkola 145.0 m (476 ft)  
March 1966   Bjørn Wirkola 146.0 m (479 ft)  
12 March 1967   Reinhold Bachler 154.0 m (505 ft)  
20 February 1977   František Novák157.0 m (515 ft)  
15 February 1986   Piotr Fijas163.0 m (535 ft)  
25 February 1990   Ole Gunnar Fidjestøl167.0 m (548 ft)  
25 February 1990   Matti Nykänen171.0 m (561 ft)  
25 February 1990   Dieter Thoma171.0 m (561 ft)  
18 February 1995   Lasse Ottesen175.0 m (574 ft)  
Date Length
18 February 1995   Andreas Goldberger179.0 m (587 ft)  
18-19 February 1995   Espen Bredesen185.0 m (607 ft)  
19 February 1995   Janne Ahonen187.0 m (613 ft)  
19 February 1995   Andreas Goldberger188.0 m (617 ft)  
1 March 1998   Takanobu Okabe194.0 m (636 ft)  
11 February 2000   Andreas Goldberger207.0 m (679 ft)  
12 January 2007   Michael Uhrmann214.5 m (704 ft)  
14 March 2009   Martin Koch216.5 m (710 ft)  
14 March 2009   Harri Olli219.0 m (718 ft)  
11 February 2011   Daiki Ito220.0 m (722 ft)  
11 February 2011   Johan Remen Evensen 243.0 m (797 ft)  
11 February 2011   Johan Remen Evensen 246.5 m (809 ft)  
14 February 2015   Peter Prevc 250.0 m (820 ft)  
15 February 2015   Anders Fannemel 251.5 m (825 ft)  
18 March 2017   Robert Johansson 252.0 m (826 ft)  
18 March 2017   Stefan Kraft 253.5 m (832 ft)  

Invalid

Date Length
1969   Ladislav DivilaWR 166.0 m (545 ft)  
15 February 2015   Dmitri VassilievWR 254.0 m (833 ft)  
  • world record jumps with fall; Vassilev's is longest ever.

Ladies

Date Length
6 March 2004   Anette Sagen174.5 m (672 ft)  
7 March 2004   Helena Olsson Smeby174.5 m (672 ft)  

Technical data

Specifications
Inrun length124 m[23]
Inrun angle36°
Top to bottom height differenceN/A
Take-off table to bottom height difference135 m
Take-off table height2.42 m
Landing zone angle30° - 38°
Hillsize240 m
K-point200 m

References

Bibliography
  • Drolsum, Nils; Flattum, Odd; Lund, Thure (1994). Klang har navnet: Vikersund idrettsforening 1894–1994 (in Norwegian). Vikersund: Vikersund idrettsforening. ISBN 82-993278-0-6.
  1. MacArthur, Paul J. 2011. Taking Flight. Skiing Heritage 23(2) (March–April): 20–25, p. 23.
  2. Bass, Howard. 1968. Winter Sports. South Brunswick, NJ: A. S. Barnes, p. 62.
  3. Ski Jump: Watch Anders Fannemel Set the New World Record. 2015. The Telegraph (February 16).
  4. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-ski-jumping-hill/
  5. http://www.vg.no/sport/hopp/hopp/johansson-satte-verdensrekord-saa-ble-han-slaatt-av-kraft-253-5-meter/a/23952530/ (Norwegian)
  6. Drolsum: 42
  7. Drolsum: 43
  8. Drolsum: 47
  9. Drolsum: 46
  10. Drolsum: 49
  11. Drolsum: 54
  12. Drolsum: 55
  13. Drolsum: 53
  14. Drolsum: 61
  15. "Vikersundbakken now a K200". skisprungschanzen.com. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  16. Drolsum: 44
  17. Drolsum: 45
  18. Drolsum: 56
  19. Drolsum: 57
  20. Drolsum: 58
  21. Drolsum: 60
  22. Drolsum: 50
  23. "The Skiflying Hill - Technical Data". Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

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