The Olympic Hill


The first "Olympic Hill" in Partenkirchen was erected at Kochelberg in 1925, although there were no Olympic Winter Games coming up. When the newly established community of Garmisch-Partenkirchen was asked to host the Olympic Winter Games in 1936, the erection of the "real" Olympic Hill began at Gudiberg in October 1933.

During the first trial event on February 5, 1934, the Norwegian Rolf Kaarby won with the farthest jump to 70 metres. About 5,000 spectators witnessed this "baptism of fire" for the new hill.
The largest number of spectators ever came for the Olympic Winter Games in 1936. 130,000 spectators witnessed this unique ski jumping event, which the Norwegian Birger Ruud won with jumps to 75 and 74.5 metres.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen was again appointed host of the Winter Games in 1940. For this event, the Olympic Stadium was reconstructed and got the look it has today.

The Olympic Large Hill was adapted several times to the changing requirements. In 1950, the steel inrun tower was erected – at that time unique for its architecture and construction. By extending the inrun and putting back the take-off platform while keeping the same critical point, the same inrun incline and correcting the landing hill, the whole facility could be extended. At that time, the "renovated" Olympic Large Hill was considered as the world’s most up-to-date ski jumping hill. The last reconstruction took place in 1996, when the hill profile was adapted to today’s requirements. In the course of the year 2000, the ski jumping stadium was equipped with a modern lift; in 2001, a glass structure was erected at the inrun tower.
In 2005, the municipal council decided to have a new facility built for the New Year’s Ski Jumping event in 2008.

On April 14, 2007, the Olympic Hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was demolished. The "old lady" – this is how the facility is reverently called by now – has become obsolete after more than 50 years and will be replaced by a new large hill (see photo montage). The official start of the construction was on April 24, 2007. If you believe the construction plans and corresponding photo montages, this hill will become the landmark of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The first ski jumping event on the new hill is scheduled for December 21 or 22, 2007. On December 31, 2007, the hill will be officially inaugurated during the Four Hills Tournament.
Since 1921, the Ski Club Partenkirchen has been host of the traditional New Year’s Ski Jumping event. With this event, the "German-Austrian" Ski Jumping Tournament began on January 1, 1953, and with this event also the sports year of 2007 began.