KrakowInformer.com

Ski jumps have always attracted crowds to Zakopane

The view from Wielka Krokiew

Will Zakopane have a jump as impressive as Holmenkolle does?

The Polish Ski Association (PZN) has just confirmed the long awaited news concerning building a giant ski jump in Zakopane. The proposal has been speculated about ever since the world championships in Planica, Slovenia, but it wasn’t taken seriously. The PZN is bidding to be the organiser of the world championships in ski-flying in 2014. The facility will be opened by Poland's most famous ski jumper, Adam Małysz, whose populoarity has been linked to the rise in interest in the sport.

At present the biggest ski jump in Poland is Wielka Krokiew, also found in Zakopane. It is only a 120 m high, whereas the giant ski jumps start from 170 m. The official record of Wielka Krokiew is Simon Amman’s 140.5 m, but the longest jump recorded is that of Juha-Matti Ruuskanen, 141.5 m. When the giant ski jump in Zakopane is completed, the fans will be able to see ski-flights as long as 240m.

The project does face some resistance from ecological bodies. The authorities of Tatrzański Park Narodowy (Tatra Mountains National Park, TPN) have already protested against plans of opening new ski runs near Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m), the highest peak in Poland accessible by cableway, and now it is very likely that they will very carefully assess all ecological aspects and verify if the giant ski jump will not disturb the natural balance of the Tatras in the vicinity of Zakopane.