Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze (Heini Klopfer Ski Flying Hill) is a ski flying hill in Oberstdorf, Germany. It was opened in 1950, and was later renamed after its architect, Heini Klopfer. A total of 21 world records have been set on the hill. The venue should not be confused with the Schattenberg ski jumping hill, also in Oberstdorf, about to the north.
History
1949: Plans and realisation In 1949, they were originally discussing about whether they should just rather enlarge the existing Schattenbergschanze or build a complete new hill with calculation point at K120.
Three ski jumpers Heini Klopfer, Sepp Weiler and Toni Brutscher together made a final decision to build a complete new hill and they found the perfect location. Inspired by Planica, they wanted to beat legendary Bloudkova velikanka in Slovenia, as the long time world record breaking and leading hill. Starting in July, hill construction was completed as planned in only five months, finished on 10 December.
1950: Opening with four world records On 2 February 1950, hill test was reserved for founding trio only. Heini Klopfer jumped as first ever landing at 90 metres, Toni Brutscher at 112 metres and Sepp Weiler at 115 metres.
From 28 February to 5 March 1950, hill was officially opened with ski flying week, which was a just a copy of the competition format from Planica. Between 60,000 and 170,000 people have gathered in total.
On 28 February, Austrian ski jumper Willi Gantschnigg set the first official world record at 124 metres (408 feet) and two days later broke his leg crashing at 130 metres (427 ft) world record distance.
On 2 March, Sepp Weiler improved world record at 127 metres (417 feet). And Austrian Hans Eder was disqualiefied at 130 metres (427 ft) world record distance.
On 3 March, records were beat again by Andreas Däscher at 130 metres (427 feet) and Dan Netzell at 135 metres (443 feet). After both of them Sepp Weiler landed at 133 metres (436 feet).
1951: Ski Flying Week II with world record From 28 February to 4 March 1951, the second Ski Flying Week was held, with over 120,000 spectators attending. Tauno Luiro from Finland set the official world record at 139 metres (456 feet) on the third day of competition.
1952: Ski Flying Week III
From 28 February to 2 March 1952, third Ski Flying Week took place, with over 60,000 attendees. Competition was interrupted on all three days due to weather conditions. FIS committee decided to grade distances only. No official results was published.
All jumpers that exceeded 100 metres distances, received a commemorative needle engraved with the distance achieved. Toivo Lauren from set the longest distance of the weekend at 131 metres (430 ft).
1955: Ski Flying Week IV From 26 to 27 February 1955, fourth Ski Flying Week was held. Four jumps in total, two from each day, counted into official results. Hemmo Silvennoinen won the competition with 452.5 points in front of Alfredsen and Brutscher.
1958: Bolkart fell at WR distance On 21 March 1958, first day of Ski Flying Week V was held in front of 5,000 people. Trial jumps (reserved competition day) opened by Toni Brutscher at 97 metres were held, which would conditionally count into official results, if one of two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. 36 ski jumpers from ten different countries were on start, jumps were scored and judged by Straumann method. Aarne Valkama made a top score with 239.8 points (136 and 126 metres).
On 22 March 1958, first competition day was held in front of 18,000 people. Only one of 35 jumpers didn't beat 100 metres mark. Andreas Däscher made a top score today with 237.8 points (125 and 128 metres).
On 23 March 1958, last competition day was held in front of 50,000 people. West German Max Bolkart fell at 139 metres (456 feet) world record distance. Helmut Recknagel (378.8 points) won in front of Däscher (369.6 points) and Vitikainen (351.6 points).
1961: Šlibar set new world record at 141 metres On 23 February 1961, first day of Ski Flying Week VI was held in front of 8,000 people, with first trial jumps in three rounds. Among 36 jumpers, Otto Leodolter, Maatela and Wolfgang Happle set the distance of the day at 136 metres (446 ft).
On 24 February 1961, second day of Ski Flying Week VI was held in front of 20,000 people, second trial jumps in two rounds (reserved day), which would conditionally count into official results, if one of next two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. In the second round at 13:41 local time, Yugoslavian (Slovenian) Jože Šlibar set the new WR at 141 metres (463 feet), with 103 km/h at take-off. Heini Klopfer himself was measuring the distance for half an hour, then published it.
On 25 February 1961, first competition day with two rounds counting into final results, first round was canceled. Wolfgang Happle from West Germany fell at 145 metres (476 feet) world record distance.
On 26 February 1961, second and final competition day in front of 50,000 people was held. Three rounds, two best (and total four) rounds counted into final results. Helmut Recknagel from East Germany won the two-day competition.
1964: Sjöberg, Motejlek and Zandanel set world records On 14 February 1964, first day of Ski Flying Week VII was held in front of 3,000 people, an official training (reserved competition day) in two round, which would conditionally count into official results, if one of next two competition days would be canceled due to weather conditions. 36 jumpers from 12 countries performed today. Kjell Sjöberg from Sweden tied Šlibar's world record at 141 metres (463 feet). Points sistem scoring was classic, as Straumann's device didn't work properly.
On 15 February 1964, first competition day in front of 20,000 people was held, with three rounds, two best into final results. Dalibor Motejlek from Czechoslovakia set the new world record at 142 metres (466 feet).
On 16 February 1964, second and final competition day was held. Three rounds today, two best (and total four) rounds counted into final results. Nilo Zandanel from Italy set the new world record at 144 metres (472 feet).
Events
DateYearHillsizeWinnerSecondThird↓ FIS International Ski Flying Week ↓28 February — 5 March 1950 K120 Sepp Weiler Andreas Däscher Dan Netzell28 February — 4 March 1951 K122 Tauno Luiro Fritz Schneider Sepp Bradl28 February — 2 March 1952 K120 International Ski Federation did not allow organizers to publish official results;jury was allowed to score and publish only distances, not style26–27 February 1955 Hemmo Silvennoinen Jack Alfredsen Toni Brutscher22–23 March 1958 Helmut Recknagel Andreas Däscher Raimo Vitikainen25–26 February 1961 Helmut Recknagel Otto Leodolter Wolfgang Happle ↓ International Ski Flying Week ↓15–16 February 1964 Kjell Sjöberg Paavo Lukkariniemi Nilo Zandanel 11–12 February 1967 Lars Grini Peter Lesser Kjell Sjöberg 8–9 March 1970 Josef Matouš Rudolf Höhnl Reinhold Bachler ↓ 2nd FIS Ski Flying World Championships ↓10–11 March 1973 K175 Hans-Georg Aschenbach Walter Steiner Karel Kodejška ↓ K.O.P. International Ski Flying Week ↓5–7 March 1976 K175 Toni Innauer Heinz Wosipiwo Hans Wallner 2–4 March 1979 K175 Andreas Hille Josef Samek Leoš Škoda↓ 6th FIS Ski Flying World Championships ↓28 February — 1 March 1981 K175 Jari Puikkonen Armin Kogler Tom Levorstad ↓ FIS World Cup ↓17 March 1984 K180 Matti Nykänen Pavel Ploc Jens Weißflog 18 March Matti Nykänen Jens Weißflog Pavel Ploc ↓ 10th FIS Ski Flying World Championships ↓13 March 1988 K182 Ole Gunnar Fidjestøl Primož Ulaga Matti Nykänen ↓ FIS World Cup ↓25 January 1992 K182 Werner Rathmayr Andreas Felder Mikael Martinsson 26 January Werner Rathmayr Andreas Felder Andreas Goldberger 25 February 1995 K182 Andreas Goldberger Roberto Cecon Jens Weißflog 26 February cancelled due to heavy snowfall ↓ 15th FIS Ski Flying World Championships = FIS World Cup ↓24 January 1998 K185 Sven Hannawald Kazuyoshi Funaki Kristian Brenden 25 January Kazuyoshi Funaki Dieter Thoma Sven Hannawald Championships (24–25 January) Kazuyoshi Funaki Sven Hannawald Dieter Thoma ↓ FIS World Cup ↓3 March 2001 K185 Risto Jussilainen Veli-Matti Lindström Matti Hautamäki 4 March Martin Schmitt Adam Małysz Risto Jussilainen 7 February 2004 K185 Roar Ljokelsoy Janne Ahonen Noriaki Kasai 8 February cancelled due to strong wind 27 January 2007 HS213 lack of snow; rescheduled to nearby Schattenbergschanze HS137 large hill 28 January ↓ 20th FIS Ski Flying World Championships ↓22–23 February 2008 HS213 Gregor Schlierenzauer Martin Koch Janne Ahonen 24 February ↓ FIS World Cup ↓14 February 2009 HS213 Harri Olli Anders Jacobsen Johan Remen Evensen 15 February 30 January 2010 HS213 31 January Anders Jacobsen Robert Kranjec Johan Remen Evensen 5 February 2011 HS213 Martin Koch Tom Hilde Gregor Schlierenzauer 6 February 18 February 2012 HS213 Martin Koch Daiki Ito Simon Ammann 19 February 16 February 2013 HS213 Richard Freitag Andreas Stjernen Gregor Schlierenzauer 17 February 4 February 2017 HS225 Stefan Kraft Andreas Wellinger Kamil Stoch5 February Stefan Kraft Andreas Wellinger Jurij Tepes↓ 25th FIS Ski Flying World Championships ↓19–20 February 2018 HS235 Daniel-André Tande Kamil Stoch Richard Freitag 21 January ↓ FIS World Cup ↓1 February 2019 HS235 Timi Zajc Dawid Kubacki Markus Eisenbichler2 February Ryōyū Kobayashi Markus Eisenbichler Stefan Kraft3 February Kamil Stoch Evgeniy Klimov Dawid Kubacki19 March 2022 HS235 Stefan Kraft Žiga Jelar Timi Zajc 20 March Timi Zajc Piotr Żyła Stefan Kraft
Hill record List of all hill and world records set on this hill (both official and invalid record distances with fall or touch).