Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze (''Heini Klopfer Ski Flying Hill'') is a

ski flying Ski flying is a winter sport discipline derived from ski jumping, in which much greater distances can be achieved. It is a form of competitive individual sport, individual Nordic skiing where athletes descend at high speed along a specially de ...

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not as ...

Oberstdorf Oberstdorf (Low Alemannic: ''Oberschdorf'') is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. It is the southernmost settlement in Germany and one of its highest towns. At the&nb ...

, Germany. It was opened in 1950, and was later renamed after its architect, Heini Klopfer. A total of 21 world records have been set on the hill. The venue should not be confused with the Schattenberg ski jumping hill, also in Oberstdorf, about to the north.

History

1949: Plans and realisation

In 1949, they were originally discussing about whether they should just rather enlarge the existing Schattenbergschanze or build a complete new hill with calculation point at K120. Three ski jumpers Heini Klopfer,

Sepp Weiler Sepp Weiler (22 January 1921, Oberstdorf, Bavaria – 24 May 1997) was a West German ski jumper who competed from 1952 to 1956. Career He finished tied for eighth in the individual large hill event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo. W ...

and

Toni Brutscher Toni Brutscher (born 15 November 1925 in Oberstdorf – 16 November 1983) was a West German ski jumper who competed during the 1950s. He finished fourth in the individual large hill event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; ...

together made a final decision to build a complete new hill and they found the perfect location. Inspired by

Planica Planica () is an Alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking ...

, the wanted to beat legendary Bloudkova velikanka in Slovenia, as the long time world record breaking and leading hill. Starting in July, hill construction was completed as planned in only five months, finished on 10 December.

1950: Opening with four world records

On 2 February 1950, hill test was reserved for founding trio only. Heini Klopfer jumped as first ever landing at 90 metres,

at 112 metres and

at 115 metres. From 28 February to 5 March 1950, hill was officially opened with ski flying week, which was a just a copy of the competition format from Planica. Between 60,000 and 170,000 people has gathered in total. On 28 February, Austrian ski jumper

Willi Gantschnigg Willi Gantschnigg (1 January 1920 – 2 December 1987) was an Austrian ski jumper and folk musician being a member of Schuhplattler group Edelraute. Career He was member of his homeclub SC St. Johann in Tirol. He donated his skis to local his ...

set the first official

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book '' Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizati ...

at 124 metres (408 feet) and two days later broke his leg crashing at 130 metres (427 ft) world record distance. On 2 March, Sepp Weiler improved world record at 127 metres (417 feet). And Austrian Hans Eder was disqualiefied at 130 metres (427 ft) world record distance. On 3 March, records were beat again by Andreas Däscher at 130 metres (427 feet) and

Dan Netzell Dan Netzell (4 January 1913 – 11 November 2003) was a Swedish ski jumper and a world record holder for one year. Ski jumping world record References {{DEFAULTSORT:Netzell, Dan Swedish male ski jumpers 1913 births 2003 deaths Sportspeo ...

at 135 metres (443 feet). After both of them Sepp Weiler landed at 133 metres (436 feet).

1951: Ski Flying Week II with world record

From 28 February to 4 March 1951, second Ski Flying Week visited total over 120,000 people. Finish

Tauno Luiro Tauno Johannes Luiro (24 February 1932 – 29 October 1955) was a Finnish ski jumper. Career In February 1951 he became the first non- Norwegian to win the youth ski jumping competition in Holmenkollen, Oslo. On 2 March 1951 he set a new wo ...

set the official world record at 139 metres (456 feet) on the third day of competition.

1952: Ski Flying Week III

From 28 February to 2 March 1952, third Ski Flying Week with over 60,000 people. Competition was interrupted all three days due to weather. FIS committee decided to grade only distances. There was no official results published. All jumpers that exceeded 100 metres distances, received a commemorative needle engraved with the distance achieved. Toivo Lauren from set the longest distance of the weekend at 131 metres (430 ft).

1955: Ski Flying Week IV

From 26 to 27 February 1955, fourth Ski Flying Week was held. Four jumps in total, two from each day, counted into official results.

Hemmo Silvennoinen Hemmo Valio Silvennoinen (6 November 1932 in Kesälahti – 4 December 2002 in Vantaa) was a Finnish ski jumper who competed from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s. He won the overall event at the 1954-55 Four Hills Tournament, then won the 19 ...

won the competition with 452.5 points in front of Alfredsen and Brutscher.

1958: Bolkart fell at WR distance

On 21 March 1958, first day of Ski Flying Week V was held in front of 5,000 people. Trial jumps (reserved competition day) opened by Toni Brutscher at 97 metres were held, which would conditionally count into official results, if one of two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. 36 ski jumpers from ten different countries were on start, jumps were scored and judged by Straumann method.

Aarne Valkama Aarne Valkama (1909 – 12 November 1969) was a Finnish nordic combined skier who competed in the 1930s. He won a bronze medal in the individual event at the 1937 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Chamonix Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, ...

made a top score with 239.8 points (136 and 126 metres). On 22 March 1958, first competition day was held in front of 18,000 people. Only one of 35 jumpers didn't beat 100 metres mark. Andreas Däscher made a top score today with 237.8 points (125 and 128 metres). On 23 March 1958, last competition day was held in front of 50,000 people. West German

Max Bolkart Max Bolkart (born 29 July 1932 in Oberstdorf, Bavaria) is a West German former ski jumper who competed from 1954 to 1966. Career He finished fourth in the individual large hill at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and sixth in the ...

fell at 139 metres (456 feet) world record distance. Helmut Recknagel (378.8 points) won in front of Däscher (369.6 points) and Vitikainen (351.6 points).

1961: Šlibar set new world record at 141 metres

On 23 February 1961, first day of Ski Flying Week VI was held in front of 8,000 people, with first trial jumps in three rounds. Among 36 jumpers, Otto Leodolter, Maatela and Wolfgang Happle set the distance of the day at 136 metres (446 ft). On 24 February 1961, second day of Ski Flying Week VI was held in front of 20,000 people, second trial jumps in two rounds (reserved day), which would conditionally count into official results, if one of next two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. In the second round at 13:41 local time, Yugoslavian (Slovenian)

Jože Šlibar Jože Šlibar (born 18 March 1934) is a Yugoslav former ski jumper. Career On 24 February 1961, he set the ski jumping world record at 141 metres (463 ft) in Oberstdorf, West Germany, which he held and shared for the next three years together ...

set the new WR at 141 metres (463 feet), with 103 km/h at take-off. Heini Klopfer himself was measuring the distance for half an hour, then published it. On 25 February 1961, first competition day with two rounds counting into final results, first round was canceled. Wolfgang Happle from West Germany fell at 145 metres (476 feet) world record distance. On 26 February 1961, second and final competition day in front of 50,000 people was held. Three rounds, two best (and total four) rounds counted into final results. Helmut Recknagel from East Germany won the two day competition.

1964: Sjöberg, Motejlek and Zandanel set world records

On 14 February 1964, first day of Ski Flying Week VII was held in front of 3,000 people, an official training (reserved competition day) in two round, which would conditionally count into official results, if one of next two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. 36 jumpers from 12 countries performed today.

Kjell Sjöberg Kjell Allan Sjöberg (11 May 1937 – 10 September 2013) was a Swedish ski jumper. Career He competed at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympics in the normal hill and large hill events with the best result of fifth place in the large hill in 1964. H ...

from Sweden tied Šlibar's world record at 141 metres (463 feet). Points sistem scoring was classic, as Straumann's device didn't work properly. On 15 February 1964, first competition day in front of 20,000 people was held, with three rounds, two best into final results. Dalibor Motejlek from Czechoslovakia set the new world record at 142 metres (466 feet). On 16 February 1964, second and final competition day was held. Three rounds today, two best (and total four) rounds counted into final results.

Nilo Zandanel Nilo Zandanel (8 November 1937 – 25 July 2015) was an Italian ski jumper. Career He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics in the normal and large hill Ski jumping is a winter sport in which competitors aim to achieve the far ...

from Italy set the new world record at 144 metres (472 feet).

Events

Hill record

Note

References

External links

Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze
official
Oberstdorf.de

Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze
skisprungschanzen.com {{coord, 47, 22, 31, N, 10, 16, 09, E, region:DE-HH_type:landmark, display=title Ski areas and resorts in Germany Ski jumping venues in Germany Ski flying venues Oberallgäu Sports venues in Bavaria