Peter Riedel GmbH outfits Holmenkollen Hill with a new approach track

The Holmenkollbakken is regarded as the world's oldest ski jumping hill and the most visited tourist attraction in Oslo. First opened in 1892, the hill has been rebuilt 15 times to date, most recently in 2009 ahead of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011. Now the most famous ski jump receives a new approach track. The Oslo Municipality, which manages the entire sports area at Holmenkollen, has decided on the patented track system from Peter Riedel GmbH. With this, the Erzgebirge company outfits the second World Cup jump of the upcoming season, following the Bergisel Jump in Innsbruck.

“Holmenkollen is a Norwegian sacred site; the whole country looks to it. Being allowed to install the new approach track on the Olympic Hill from 1952 is a great honor and responsibility, which we are aware of,” explains managing director Peter Riedel. “After Trondheim and Vikersund, it is the third World Cup jump in Norway that, thanks to our innovative approach track, can rely on top quality and stable competition conditions in any weather.”

“There have been longstanding efforts for a new approach track at Holmenkollen. The new approach will provide skiers and organizers with more stable competition conditions within an event and will overall simplify the processes,” says Eli Grimsby, director of the municipal company for culture and sports facilities.

In early September the company was awarded the contract; production is completed and the first modules of the track system as well as the new cooling system have already been delivered to Holmenkollen. On November 9, installation of the new track system began. For the first time, the Master Track Double will mount a combined approach track enabling ski jumping in winter and summer. So far no summer ski jumping has been held at Holmenkollen, but the new summer track opens up new possibilities.

Image sources: JDS Marco Boella, Peter Riedel GmbH