|
 Wielka
Krokiew im.
Stanisława Marusarza
Country: Poland
Date of construction: 1925
The K-point: K 120
Hill record holder: Sven Hannawald-Germany(18th
January 2003)
- 140 m.
The Wielka Krokiew ski-jumping hill is surely one of the most
beautiful facilities of this kind in the world. As one of the
few natural ones, settled in the forest sheltering it from
sudden gusts of wind, it has always attracted attention of the
best ski-jumpers in the world. It still does. Originally, the
first 30-meters jumping hill in Zakopane was situated in Dolina
Jaworzynki near KuĽnice. However, the people of the town
realized a need for a better and a bigger one. The designers of
the Wielka Krokiew hill were engineers Karol Stryjeński and a
Swede Sellstroem. The construction of the hill began in1923 and
lasted for 2 years. For the first time, the hill was used on 22nd
March 1925. The longest jump of 36 meters, which became the
first Polish national record ever, was completed by Stanisław
G±sienica-Sieczka from the local club of O.N. ”Sokół” Zakopane.
Later, jumps of 50, 60 and finally of 100 meters were completed
at the beginning of the 60s’.
 1929
- “FIS” for the first time
The hill has hosted FIS World Championships three times so
far, the first time being in 1929, then in 1939 and finally in
1962. First competitions of the “FIS-races” in Zakopane ended on
10th February 1929 with an open-contest on the Wielka
Krokiew hill, which was won by Sigmund, the oldest of the Ruud
brothers, who were unusually talented ski-jumpers from Konsgberg
in Norway. The second came Johanson and the third Vinjaregen,
all of them Norwegians. Bronisław Czech turned out to be the
best Polish on this event, and took the 10th place. A new record
was set up by Stanisław G±sienica-Sieczka at 66 meters.
1939-Marusarz the fifth world ski-jumper
Before the next “FIS” championships, which were held at
the foot of the Tatras from 11th till 19th
February 1939, the ski-jumping hill was reconstructed. The
opening ceremony was held at the outrun of the hill. On 19th
February, Sunday, hundreds of fans arrived at the Krokiew to
watch the world’s best ski-jumpers. The competition stood on a
very high level. The winner was Josef Bradl (AUS), who
represented Germany, Birger Ruud came second and Arnholdt
Kongsgaard was third (both from Norway). Stanisław took the
fifth place and the 11th was taken by a junior from
SN PTT local club Jan Kula. The competition was a great success.
For next jumps the people of Zakopane had to wait for 6 years.
After the second world war was over, ski-jumpers came back to
the Wielka Krokiew hill. Unfortunately, not all of them had the
opportunity. To commemorate those who were killed in the war, SN
PTT secretary’s Ignacy Bujak initiated in 1946 a Bronisław
Czech’s Memorial, which was initially held in Nordic disciplines
only. When Alpine disciplines were included within the
memorial, it gained yet another patron, that of Helena
Marusarzówna. These competitions were ever since held on high
international level, and the world’s best skiers compared them
to the biggest events like those in Fallun, Lahti and
Holmenkollen.
 Łaciak
equlized the Marusarz’s success
The Wielka Krokiew gained a new gorgeous look before
the world championships in 1962. Its profile was totally
changed, and what’s more, a stunning stadium and side stands
were built , as well. The author of these changes was engineer
Jerzy Muniak and the designer of the modern extension of the
hill was an architect, ex-ski-jumper from AZS club in Zakopane,
Stanisław Karpiel. For the first time in the history of Nordic
championships a ski jumping competition was held in a normal
hill. Sixty two jumpers participated in the competition which
was won by a Norwegian Toralf Engen. Antoni Łaciak, a bricklayer
from Szczyrk and a foster-child of coach Mieczysław Kozdruń,
became the world silver medalist with 3 beautiful jumps at 67,
64,5 and 71,5 meters. The seventh came Gustaw Bojek from Wisła.
Back to the Wielka Krokiew, Recknagel set up a new hill record
at 103 meters beating Kamieński from USSR and Niilo Halonen from
Finland. As usual, Polish Łaciak took a good 6-th place and
Piotr Wala the 8-th one.
 World
Cups on the Wielka Krokiew
For the first time world cup competitions in
ski-jumping were held in Zakopane in 1980. The competition was
held on the normal hill despite very bad weather conditions. The
winner was an Olimpian Stanisław Bobak representing “Legia”
Zakopane club. A day later, another Polish Piotr Fijas,
presently the co-coach of the Polish national ski jumping team,
showed his perfect abilities in jumping. He defeated Bobak and
Mobekk from Norway. For the next world cup competitons Zakopane
had to wait for another 10 years. The next winners were Jens
Weissflog, later Andreas Felder (AUT) and Fidjestoel (Norway).
Unfortunately, none of the Polish jumpers achieved any success.
Great jumpers began their careers at Wielka Krokiew.
To start with Slovenian Primoz Peterka from SK Triglav club, who
on 27th January 1996 won his first world cup competition. He was
only 17 then, but it did not prevent him from achieving success
on ski jumping hills all over the world. During the first day
competition he established a new hill record of 130 meters. On
the same day, the 9-th place was taken by a Polish ski jumper
from Wisła Adam Małysz. On the second day, Andreas Goldberger
Goldi, turned out to be the best one and Peterka came second.
Małysz took the 6th place.
On 17th and 18th January 1998 the best ski-jumpers
met in Zakopane again. On the first day, Norwegian Kristian
Brenden jumped the longest (99 and 106 meters) and won before
Janne Ahonen from Finland and Sven Hannawald from Germany. On
the second day, famous Peterka found once again his excellent
skills (124 and 127 meters) beating Kazuyoshi Funaki from Japan
and Sven Hannawald . In 1999 world cup events were held in
Zakopane twice. On 16th January Stefan Horngacher (AUT) won
before Janne Ahonen and Tommy Ingebrigtsen from Norway, and a
day later Janne Ahonen beat Kazuyoshi Funaki and Stefan
Horngacher. After the first competition round Robert Mateja held
a very good place, but unfortunately after the final round he
did not manage to uphold his position. Next world cup
competitions on the Wielka Krokiew hill were held on 18th and
19th December. The great winner turned out to be German ski
jumper from Willingen Martin Schmitt, Adam Małysz was 13th.
After 1999 the hill certificate had to be renewed, and after
some modernization the FIS granted a new certificate just in
time for the Winter Universiade Zakopane 2001. The Wielka
Krokiew welcomed the world’s best ski jumpers for the world cup
events on 19th and 20th January 2002. Saturday competition (19th
January) was won by Finnish Matti Hautamaeki and on Sunday (20th
January) Adam Małysz celebrated his victory with a memorable
kissing of the outrun. Thousands of people watched the
celebrations. On Saturday 80 thousand spectators turned up at
the hill, on Sunday 60 thousand. The first time in the history
of the World Cup so many spectators witnessed the competition.
In 2002 Sven Hannawald (Germany) was the hero of the competition
(twice 2nd), but in 2003 Sven Hannawald set up a new hill record
at 140 meters (on 18th January).
 Stanisław
Marusarz “ Dziadek” (1913-1993) patron of the ski jumping hill
The
ski-jumping hill has had its name since 1988. Marusarz was a
four times Olympian (1932, 1936, 1948, 1952 and in 1956 he
opened the Olympic ski jumping contest), world silver medallist
in ski jumping from Lahti (1938) and also 21 times a national
champion of Poland. In 1935 he established the two world records
(95 and 97 meters) in Planica. He represented SNPTT and CWKS
clubs (since 1951). He also worked as a coach, he was a
resistance movement soldier, a Tatra courier and a frequent
record holder of the Wielka Krokiew. In his lifetime, he become
a living legend of the Polish skiing.
The next ski jumping world cup competitions will be
held in Zakopane on the Wielka Krokiew hill on 17th
and 18th January 2004.
Technical information:
Length of the in-run: 91 m
Height of the take-off: 3 m
Average speed at the take-off: 92 km/h
Gradient of the take-off: 10,5
Gradient of the hill: 35
The K-point : K- 120
Jury distance: 134 m
stands: up to 40
thousand fans
Hill record holders:
1925-
Stanisław G±sienica-Sieczka (POL)-36 m, 1926- Tadeusz
Zaydel (POL)- 40,5 m, 1927- Józef Lankosz (POL)- 47 m,
49,5 m , 1928- Bronisław Czech (POL) – 61m, 1929-
Bronisław Czech 63 m, 1929- Stanisław G±sienica-Sieczka-
66 m, 1934- Stanisław Marusarz (POL)- 74 m, 1935-
Reidar Andersen (NOR) 76 m, 1939- Sepp Bradl (GER)- 80 m,1939-
Birger Ruud (NOR) –81,5 m, 1948- Stanisław Marusarz- 83,5
m, 85 m, 1955- Antoni Wieczorek (POL) 86,5 m , 1956-
Harry Glass (DDR)- 88 m, 1961-
Karl Schramm (DDR) –98,5 m,
1961- Nikołaj Szamow (USSR)-
99,5 m, 100 m, 1962- Helmut Recknagel (DDR)-
103 m, 1966- Horst Queck (DDR)-
105,5 m, 1967- Jiri Raska (CZE)
–107,5 m, 1967 – Józef Kocyan (POL) 107,5 m, 1968-
Józef Przybyła (POL)- 108,5 m, 109 m, 1969- Manfred Wolf
(DDR)- 111,5 m, 1971- Hans
Schmid (SUI) – 112 m, 1973- Tadeusz Pawlusiak (POL) – 113
m, 1975- Marek Pach (POL)- 114 m, 1975- Stanisław
Bobak (POL)- 115,5 m, 1978- Tapio Korhonen (FIN)- 116 m,
1979- Piotr Fijas (POL)- 116,5 m, 1985- Piotr
Fijas – 117 m, 1985- Jiri Malec (CZE)-
119 m, 1986- Jan Kowal (POL)- 122,5 m, 1987 Jan
Kowal – 123 m, 1992- Zbigniew Klimowski (POL)- 124 m,
1995- Arne Vorvik (NOR)- 128 m, 1996- Primoz Peterka
(SLO)- 130 m, 1996- Aleksander Bojda (POL)- 130,5 m,
2001- Stefan Kaiser (AUT)- 135,5 m, 2003- Adam Małysz
(POL)- 136 m, 2003- Sven Hannawald (GER)- 140 m.
Translated by
Małgorzata Gabor and Agnieszka
Baczkowska |
