Planica

From 1934 till today

Planica is the western most valley in the northwest part of Julian Alps. It is also refferred to as The valley under Ponce or the valley of ski jumps. At its end it traverses into one of the most beautiful parts of Slovenia - Tamar. Ponce (2274 m) on the west side, Cipernik and Mojstrovka on the east and Jalovec rising over Tamar make the borderline of the valley of ski jumps. On the slope just above Tamar is the well of Nadiza, the first of Sava Dolinka's wells. As a distinctively alpine valley, Planica has a mountain climate with long, cold and snowy winters. The nearest town is Ratece, above which at a distance of approximately 3 kilometres is the triple border of Austria-Italy-Slovenia. The next closest town is 11 kilometres away - Kranjska gora, which is famous for its alpine skiing contests for Vitranc trophy. The only way to get to Planica with a vehicle, is to take a road that branches off in Ratece. Access from Slovenia is via Ljubljana (100 km) - Kranj - Jesenice - Kranjska Gora - Ratece. Visitors from Austria can take the Karavanke tunel or Korensko sedlo border cross and proceed towards Ratece, the ones from Italy can take the road from Trevisio to the border crossing in Ratece.

The history of ski jumps in Slovenia officially began with the first record and championship in 1921 at Bohinj. There Joze Pogacar made a record jump of 9 m and became the first champion and record holder. Even before 1930 Planica got its first ski jump. it wasn't long before ideas of a larger object were introduced, even one that would be up to official FIS standards. At this point we should mention that an unofficial record jump took place in 1931 that was made by a norwegian Sigmund Ruud.


Stanko Bloudek	Sepp Bradl

Stanko Bloudek was operating in Yugoslave winter sport association with headquarters in Ljubljana. They were planing a larger ski jump hill, suitable for record distances. Suitable terain was found in Planica, but it took almost two years to carry out the idea. Ivan Rozman made blueprints for an object that would allow up to a 100 metres long jumps. Installation was put to the test between February 23. and 26. 1934 on the normal hill state championship. The best distance was 60 metres. Between March 23. and 26. of the same year there was an international normal hill competition with 14 ski jumpers from Norway, Austria and Slovenia. Birger Ruud won the gold medal. After the competition they continued jumping from the highest inrun ramp and Birger Ruud jumped 92 metres, setting Planica and world record on his 23rd birthday. Planica became worldwide famous. Constructor of the first large hill ski jump, also known as the Giant, added another innovation - because of the soft snow he chemically preparated and therefore 'invented' snow cement. The competition in March 1936 took place without the best of Norwegians.Young Austrian Sepp Bradl was the first one to jump over 100 metres (101 m) and therefore became the hero of Planica. In spite of ski workers' efforts FIS prevented long distance jumps for they allready outgrew into ski flying. After the WW II Planica ski jump badly needed renovation. Bloudek and his coworkers succeded to repair the damage but FIS still didn`t approve of competitions.

Only in March 1947 they managed to arrange a week of ski flights betwen Swiss and Slovene teams. A year later many more guests arrived. Beside Swiss and Slovene also French, Polish and Chek. The hero of the event was Swiss Tschannen with a new record mark of 120 m. Nobody suspected then it was the last record for next 21 years. After the year of 1950 large hill ski jump rested for four years. In the meantime Planica fell far behind Kulm and Oberstdorf in distance records.The terain didn't allow more enlargements on the ski jump. There was a competition in Planica every three years since 1954, but things were not the same due to shorter distances and both younger 'sisters'. All those years thoughts of the organizers were directed toward building a new large hill ski jump which would reinstate the glory of Planica.

Brothers Gorisek took over Bloudek's constructional heritage. They made blueprints for a ski flying hill also known as the Giant. It was designed in a way that allowed enlargments. In the range of KOP (Kulm-Obersdorf-Planica) association, they prepared the first competition on the Giant in March 19. 1969. It was a historical event because of 90.000 spectators in three days and five world records accomplished by Wirkola (156 m, 160 m), Raska (156 m, 164 m) and Manfred Wolf (165 m).

The dreams of Planica's pioneers became a reality and ski flying become equal to other ski disciplines. Since the first ski flying World Championship there were three more, two World Cup competitions and two one week ski flying events. All together seven from 1974 to 1994.

New records on the Giant (which was adjusted and enlarged a few times) continued and reached climax at 13th World Championship in 1994. Gorisek brothers prepared the ski flying hill for jumps longer than 200 m. To put things in chronical order: in 1974 Steiner moves record mark on 169 m, in 1979 Ostwald on the 5th World Championship equals the record with 176m (Austrian Kogler won). The 8th World Championship was also record-breaking when Holland, an American, (186m) and Finnish Matti Nykaenen (187 m, 191 m) flew record marks.

In 1987 (World Cup) Pollish Pjotr Fijas broke Planica and world record with 194 metres.

In March 1994 Planica treated 13th World Championship. Three people got on the record list: Austrian Hoellwarth (196 m), Finnish Toni Nieminen with 203 m ( he was the first one to fly over 200 m) and Norwegian Espen Bredesen with 209 metres.

On the final World Championship event in 1997 more than 10.000 spectators (3 days) witnessed new unofficial world records accomplished by Norwegians Bredesen (210 m) and Ottesen (212 m). An absolute winner was Slovene Primoz Peterka. He conquered 4th and 2nd place in the final World Championship evaluation and also won special ski flying evaluation.

Current world record is held by Bjoern Einar Romoeren - 239 m from Planica in 2005.