Letalnica bratov Gorišek
Letalnica bratov Gorišek is one of two largest ski flying hills in the world and the biggest of eight hills located at the Planica Nordic Centre in Planica, Slovenia. It was built in 1969 and is named after the original constructors and brothers Vlado and Janez Gorišek. With a total of 28 world records set it is the world leading ski jump hill in this statistic. The world's steepest zip-line with average incline of 38.33% and maximum incline of 58.7% incline opened at the hill on 19 September 2015.
Yugoslavian ski jumper Miro Oman made the premiere test jump of on 6 March 1969. The first ever FIS Ski Flying World Championships were organized on this hill in 1972. After Matti Nykänen set a world record jump of at the SFWC 1985, a new rule was instituted by the FIS that no points for jumps over this distance would be awarded in order to prevent world record hunting. On 17 March 1994 Andreas Goldberger touched the snow with his hand at for the first ever albeit disqualified over two hundred metre jump. Just a few minutes later Toni Nieminen landed on his feet at and officially became the first man in history to jump over two hundred metres. In addition, the first ever jumps over 160 m, 170 m, 180 m, 190 m, 200 m, 210 m, 220 m and 230 m were recorded at the hill. The hill will host the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in 2020. Hill also hosts annual Red Bull 400 world series event, the steepest 400 metres uphill run in the world.
In 1985, Planica set attendance all-time record with total of 150,000 people in all three days of Championships and 80,000 people on Saturday alone, traditionally most visited day.
History
1969–1972: Opening and first World Championships
Velikanka bratov Gorišek was planned, constructed and developed by Slovenian constructors, engineers and brothers, Vlado and Janez Gorišek. At the time, a lead engineer of Planica was a Bloudek's successor Stano Pelan, who proposed to enlarge Bloudkova velikanka; however, they decided for a new hill on another location instead. At that time, Janez Gorišek was working as an engineer in Libya, where he prepared a plan and profile for a new hill. Construction started in summer of 1967 and was mainly completed in late 1968. During the construction, Janez was still working in Africa, so his older brother Vlado was fully in charge of the construction site. Original construction point was at K153, maximum incline at 42°, with inrun 145 metres long and height difference between take-off table and bottom of the hill 127 metres.On 6 March 1969, two weeks before competition a hill test with trial jumper was made. Yugoslavian Miro Oman baptized Velikanka bratov Gorišek K153 hill around 14:00 PM local time with 135 metres. On 21 March 1969, the first day of KOP Ski Flying Week competiton, hill was officially opened with first hill world record distance at 156 metres by Bjørn Wirkola. On the next day world record was tied and improved three times: Jiří Raška and Bjørn Wirkola. On the last third day of competition infront of 45,000 people fifth and the last world record this year was set by Manfred Wolf at 165 metres in the last round. Jiří Raška won the three day competition with total five rounds counting: best one from the first day, two best rounds from the second day and two best rounds from the third day.
In 1972, the hill hosted the first ever FIS Ski Flying World Championships infront of total 110,000 people and Swiss ski jumper Walter Steiner became the first ski flying world champion. On 25 March first day of competition was in progress infront of 40,000 people. Steiner was leading after first day with 155 and 158 metres. The second day of competition was canceled after trial round, due to wind. Results from previous day counted as official.
1974–1979: Steiner, Norčič and World Championships
On 15 March 1974 second KOP ski Flying Week competition in front of 20,000 people started. Originally official training was on schedule, but national teams and chiefs of competition decided in the last moment, to already start as the first day of competition instead. The day started with promise with tied world record at 169 metres set by Walter Steiner in trial round. In the first round which was two times interrupted, repeated with gates lowered twice, Walter Steiner crashed at 177 metres world record distance. In the last third day of competition, in front of 55,000 people Walter Steiner confirmed his domination through whole weekend and won in Planica for the second consecutive time. Best round from each three days counted into final result. 115,000 people had gathered.In 1977 third KOP Ski Flying Week competition was held in front of 50,000 people. Yugoslavian Bogdan Norčič touched the ground in trial round at 181 metres world record distance, which was the first ever fly over one hundred-eighty metres barrier in history. Best one of two rounds in competition counted into final results. Austrian Reinhold Bachler won the three day competition with best round from each day counted into final result.
In 1979 they hosted second World Championships before 115,000 people. Complicated scoring system rules were changed in the last moment: total six of nine jumps, the best two rounds of each three days were incorporated. Although only four of the six rounds counted at the end as first day of competition was canceled. To perform on Saturday and Sunday competition, competitor had to reach 75% average of top ten jumps in at least one round on official training on Thursday or at first day of competition on Friday. Water and heavy floods in the outrun area took first day of competition off. It started on Saturday with East German Axel Zitzmann crashed at world record distance at 179 metres, second round was canceled and repeated. East German test jumper Klaus Ostwald tied the world record at 176 metres. Armin Kogler became the world champion after four of the six best flights in two days of competition.
1985: Record breaking attendance with Nykänen
In 1984, in the honour of Planica's 50th anniversary, organizing committee decided to modernize the hill. First big renovation works were done in summer and fall of 1984. Soldiers from the Yugoslav Army, volunteers and different working organizations helped at the construction site under the command of Gorišek brothers. 1,500 cubic metres of material was dug out and filled into the landing zone. They also dug out 300 cubic metres of material from inrun. Old wooden inrun tower was replaced with steel and take-off table was pushed back for five metres.In 1985 they hosted third World Championships infront of Planica all-time record attendance with 150,000 people in total and with single record event infront of 80,000 people on Saturday alone. But most memorable was official training on Friday with three world records: Mike Holland and Matti Nykänen who became world champion. Three rounds counted into final result and the fourth was canceled due to weather.
1987: World Cup premiere and last parallel record
In 1987 season, two World Cup ski flying individual events were organized on the hill for the first time. On 13 March 1987 official training was on schedule with Felder touched the ground at 192 metres WR distance in the second training round and Fijas landed at 189 metres. Polish ski jumper Piotr Fijas set the last parallel style world record on the first day of competition when he jumped in the third round which was officially recognized seven years later at FIS congress in Rio de Janeiro when 191 rule was canceled. Round was canceled and repeated righ after in which Andreas Felder managed to land at 191 metres and won the first World Cup competition in Planica with two best of three rounds counted as the result. On second competition Vegard Opaas' landed at 193 metres in the round which made jury to canceled the round and competition immediately and only best of first two rounds counted and Ole Gunnar Fidjestøl won the second World Cup event. Opaas was furious at technical delegate Torbjørn Yggeseth who robbed him of an almost certain victory, which would help him in a very tied World Cup overall battle with Ernst Vettori.1991: Kiessewetter with all-time longest parallel jump
On 23 March 1991, in second round, André Kiesewetter touched the ground at world record distance at 196 metres, the longest all-time parallel style ski in history. In the 3rd round Stephan Zünd and Kiesewetter landed at 191 m. On the next day, German Ralph Gebstedt landed at 190 metres in the third round and won the competition. Round was almost canceled and repeated by the jury after Gebstedt's jump, but it didn't, and it counted as final result.1994: Magic barrier of 200 metres broken
On 17 March 1994, history was made at World Championships which counted for World Cup also. Snow was transffered with helicopters from near moutains. It started with Martin Höllwarth who set the world record at 196 metres as a test jumper. Austrian ski jumper Andreas Goldberger landed at, making the first ever jump over 200 metres; however, he touched the snow with his hands, and the jump was counted as invalid. Just a few minutes later, Finnish ski jumper Toni Nieminen landed on his feet at and officially became the first man in history who jumped over 200 metres. It continued with Christof Duffner on the official training on next day who crashed from a huge height at 207 metres metres world record distance. About 15 minutes later Espen Bredesen set the third and last world record that year at 209 metres.1997: Peterka and ski jumping mania in Slovenia
In 1997 ski jumping mania spread all over Slovenia, probably the peak of popularity of this sport in the country, all thanks to local matador Primož Peterka who was dominating the season and battling for the first ever Slovenian overall title with Dieter Thoma. On qualifications Peterka fell and slightly injured and German doctor helped him, a great fair play move, although he could reject him to help Thoma. 130,000 people has gathered in three days, second-largest crowd in Planica history, with 70,000 people alone on the deciding Saturday when two world records were set and Peterka successfully defended the overall title. On the Sunday overall crystal globe ceremony in outrun, huge crowd simultaneously jumped over the fences and mobbed Peterka.On 18 March 2000, first ever ski flying team event was held with two world records set by Austrian ski jumpers: Thomas Hörl with and Andreas Goldberger with.
In 2003, Planica belonged to Finland. Before 120,000 people they won team and both individual events by Matti Hautamäki who set three world records: 227.5, 228.5 and 231 metres. Veli-Matti Lindström crashed at 232.5 m.
2005: Super Sunday with four world records
On 20 March 2005, so called Super World Cup Sunday competition was held with four world records set in the last round: Tommy Ingebrigtsen, Matti Hautamäki and Bjørn Einar Romøren.In 2007, all three World Cup individual events belonged to Adam Małysz who won them straight and took his 4th and last World Cup overall title, an achievement which tied him legendary Matti Nykänen.
In 2010, Planica got new chairlift, judge tower renovated, landing zone widened, profile adjusted, and take-off angle lowered to keep jumpers closer to the ground. All this was needed to fulfill international FIS standards to host the fifth World Championsips where Simon Ammann became the world champion.
In 2015, the hill was completely renovated and opened after one-year break. A new profile was drawn by Janez Gorišek with the help of his son Sebastjan Gorišek, who is also a constructor. The hill's new construction point was at K200 and the hill size at HS 225. The take-off table was moved five metres higher and pushed back for twelve metres compared to the old one.
2016: Prevc won overall infront home crowds
In 2016, Slovenia and this sport gained huge popularity again after Peterka's first overall title, huge national holiday with total of 111,000 people gathering in four days. Slovenian team was dominating, won all three individual World Cup events by Peter Prevc and Robert Kranjec and ended second at team event. Prevc set a few records in one season for most: wins, podiums and highest ever score in overall.On 22 March 2018, in the qualification round, Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer touched the ground at 253.5 metres and tied world record distance and second longest ever. Offcoures it didn't valid.
On 24 March 2019, on the last day, first round of the season final, Ryoyu Kobayashi set the hill record at 252 metres and crowned his already perfect season.
Competitions
Almost 2.5 million people in total have attended ski flying competitions in Planica since 1969.World records
Total of 28 official world records has been set at the hill. The longest ever, but invalid jump at the hill was set by Gregor Schlierenzauer in 2018 when he touched the ground at.Most visitedHill tests, official trainings and Q on Wednesday, Thursday included in total No.
The most visited single competition in Planica! And the 5th most visited single event in Slovenia ever. Controversies, mythsIn 1987 Norwegian Torbjørn Yggeseth, founder of World Cup and technical delegate of competition implemented 191 rule here first, which didn't acknowledge the jumps longer than 191 metres set by Matti Nykänen two years earlier.On 24 March 1991, according to some websites and media, a rumor that Ralph Gebstedt tied WR at 194 m spread for years, which caused a lot of confusion in world record statistics. This was just a myth. In reality he landed at 190 metres an won. At 1997 overall crystal globe ceremony in outrun, huge crowd wanted to see their hero Peterka, simultaneously jumped over the fences and mobbed Peterka, security couldn't stop them. After this "incident" ceremonies in outrun were forbbiden for a while. ;Fair play at World Championships 1994 Espen Bredesen switched his silver medal with Roberto Cecon bronze at the press conference after medal ceremony, as he would get if there was no ridiculous rule which didn't allow to score jumps exceeding 191 metres. Construction progressK-pointHill sizeTechnical dataSpecifications:
In 1997, the landscape painting of the flying hill, drawn by Vinko Bogataj, appeared at the end of the American ABC's Wide World of Sports show presented by Brent Musburger. Clip shows an interview with Bogataj about his agony of defeat. In 2014, an image of the hill was portrayed at the American The Queen Latifah Show hosted by Queen Latifah. Image was used in the background at the parody sketch "Norwegian Sven Nordquist, the oldest ski jumper in Sochi". |