Ski Jumping

SKI JUMPING AT LEAVENWORTH:

Once the snow falls ski jumping will be up and running on the "D" hill, behind the lodge at the Leavenworth Ski Hill. Coaches are on hand, by appointment, to instruct. Beginning jumpers usually start with a ride down the landing hill. After a while you work your way up to going off the 20 meter jump from the lower take-off. Then, with practice, you move up to the upper take-off. A lift takes you back to the top after each run!

GELANDE HISTORY:

Gelandesprung literally means terrain jump. The first Gelandesprung hill was built using an old mine tailings pile for a landing hill and a snow built ramp for a take-off. Alf Engen started the first contest in 1964 at Alta, Utah.  In the early days of contest the event was a celebration of spring and provided a measurable bragging rights among Utah skiers.   

Ski jumping has been in the Winter Olympics forever.  So  what is the big deal about Gelande?  Rather than using Nordic skiis, which allow a free heel, Gelande jumpers use the standard Alpine gear with a fixed heel.   The skis are extremely long and the jumpers use the "V" style of Olympic jumping for flight position.

It's not nearly as scary as one might think and it's loads of fun. Come out and join the fun

Required Equipment

BAKKE HILL HISTORY:

Bakke Hill was built up in 1933 and was one of the largest ski jumps of the whole country. Over the decades, it was enlarged several times and gained a reputation as the most known ski jump in western United States through the hosting of the U.S. American championships. 

Additional history and photos are available at the Ski Jumping Hill Archive (www.skisprungschanzen.com)