Ski jump on track: before the contest at Bergisel

"It'll be here soon," says Max, making little clouds. It's still freezing cold, a white Christmas has become rare. Meanwhile, down in the stadium, 40 ants are busily shoveling snow from the stands. One dizzying Innsbruck ski jump length (316m) further up, the Four Hills Tournament will be celebrating the legendary Bergisel ski jump in a few days' time. Michael Hayböck's insane 138 meter hill record will then be exactly ten years old. Or maybe not, project manager Christian weighs his head: "Three or four meters more might still be possible." "If everything really works out," says organizer Max, squinting into the sun. An excavator load of snow rattles past next to us. Max asks if I want to look up right away. "Sure!", lies my curiosity and I swallow my dizziness.

The first winning jump took off from Bergisel in January 1927 and landed after exactly 47.5 meters. In January '53, the Four Hills Tournament was born. In the winter of '64 and '76 , Olympic fire burned in the mighty plates next to the five rings. Since autumn 2002, a chic new ski jump has adorned the natural slope above the time-honored stands - and at night it shines as a colourful long-necked dinosaur from the Bergisel. To my shame (because I was born in Wilten, and Bergisel is also in the Wilten district), I only know the old and new ski jumps from looking up and never down. The high tower, the steep jump, the leap into the abyss - the rascal is still afraid of heights today. Max hasn't counted how many times he's climbed the steep staircase next to the ski jump(see also here and here), only the steps - over 400. He's not as fit as he is now all year round, he laughs as the lift pulls out in front of us.

It snowed a few days ago. Unfortunately, the Christmas snow is no good for anything more than a backdrop, explains Christian. Much too powdery for processing and for the weather here in the valley, but grateful to be shoveled away, he smiles. The snow base has been coming from the Lizum via the Austrian army's Unimog since at least the Olympics in '76. And as 76 square meters of LED video wall are being assembled next to us, Christian counts up again: A total of 30 companies and certainly 2,000 people are involved. Countless of them are volunteers, 40 people alone who enthusiastically shovel snow for days on end are a privilege, he enthuses.

For ski jump boss Erwin, who steps out of the lift to meet us, the Bergisel is also the absolute highlight of the Oberstdorf-Garmisch-Innsbruck-Bischofshofen tour quartet: steep, super fast and super panned - the jumpers arrive here at almost 100 km/h when they take off. "Looks great..., looks great!" Max surveys the almost vertical runway on our way up. "But it's a really steep hill...", he admits. "And a very, very black runway," Christian agrees.

Once we arrive at the ski jump tower, we change to the ski jumping lift, which is also very high inside because of the skis. Then we go up another 50 meters. The blue suit box is half-ready next to the launch ramp. A crotch standard measuring device is used here before (and after) the jump in accordance with the valid FIS regulations to measure that you are equally short with and without a suit. "And the FIS measures very accurately!" Max looks at me meaningfully and hands me a pair of feather-light flight slats. "It says Nagiller Markus, they're not mine," I reply with relief. They're from one of the two show jumpers who jump here for visitors all year round. Luckily, Max accepts my excuse, but still folds one of the much too narrow starting bars over the cooled and still safely covered starting lane. Because I want to see it at least once. And to be where only the eagles usually sit.

On the steps up to the restaurant, my butter-soft knees ponder which grave at Wilten cemetery Hayböck Michael targeted for his record jump ten years ago. Mine would certainly be a fresh one if I tried. And I'm sure the cemetery thing has a beard all the way down to the valley. But what many people don't know: That with the cauldron-shaped stadium, you are also jumping into a huge sound funnel. This is unique for Innsbruck and very exciting, and demands incredible control from the athletes. On competition days, when all the tables are full, the jumpers look down into a 134-metre-deep cauldron with a handful of snacks. I turn to my companions: "I think I've got everything up here!"

Just one lift ride later, we are met on the endless downhill steps by Andi, the head snow blower, with a snow shovel. He's also been with us for 25 years, likes to grin for a photo, exchanges 1-2 details with my companions and has to leave to shovel. "It's not until the third day (January) that the track is "planned", reground if necessary, wiped through once with a damp cloth and jumped in cleanly a few times - Andi and the track blowers then just have to maintain the perfect conditions," calculates project manager Christian behind me.

At the level of the athletes' village, Dominik, captain of the 25-strong pedal team and also responsible for the technical "decoration", runs into our arms. The "Dachsln" are still cut by hand here, he says proudly, pointing to the back at a horde of helplessly tied Christmas trees. The tradition is worth all the work for the green boundary branches, and old Christmas trees are not only more beautiful, but also more sustainable than the plastic alternatives. The Tretmannschaft decoration team also applies the red markings and they even made a giant template for the 8x8 meter logo, Dominik explains proudly. And there are only real bugglers (really good workers) in the Tretmannschaft; anyone who wants to take part gets up at five in the morning to tread the snow with the heaviest skis, because the conditions have to be absolutely perfect. "We're even more precise than the FIS," grins Dominik. Max and Christian nod with satisfaction.

We briefly visit the blue containers and the hut where the athletes' village Bruno has lived for 25 years. He knows everyone and can help in all emergencies, probably the athletes' most important friend. "And Hans is perhaps our oldest Bergisel veteran," Max introduces. A fresh 73 years young, he almost lived through the glorious battle on the Bergisel (1809), Hans confirms with a grin. His Bergisel comrade Cyril could also testify to this at any time, because he was still left of the enemy French. Everyone laughs out loud about the old stories from Bergisel, because everyone has long since become friends again.

As Max and Christian say goodbye to me, I ask if they can find some peace and quiet in the hustle and bustle. They only have to think for a moment. "When the time comes and everything is running smoothly, there are a few minutes when I just stand there quietly and take in the amazing atmosphere. The feeling is very difficult for me to put into words. Max, what do you say?" "Same here," he says, "just feel the joy. Soon the time will finally come."

Tickets for the two Bergisel competitions of the 73rd Four Hills Tournament on January 3rd (qualification) and 4th (competition) are available here.

Photos: All pictures in the article are from the author. Unless it says "Max Obergruber", then they are from Max.

There is a lot to tell about the legendary hill called Bergisel in the south of Innsbruck. Click here for more stories from my fellow bloggers.

• Danijel reports on his visit to the Bergisel ski jump, spectacular photos included: https://www.innsbruck.info/blog/de/sport-natur/vierschanzentournee-am-bergisel-ein-sport-spektakel/
• Werner Kräutler reports on the history of ski jumping on the Bergisel. Even Gianna Nannini has performed here
• Lea was out and about with the FEnsterreiniger on Bergisel
• Vil met ski jumping legend Eddie the Eagle at Bergisel. You may know him from the Hollywood movie with Taron Egerton and Hugh Jaxkman.
• You can also hear and see exciting things about the Bergisel in the Innsbruck podcast. Olympic champions and Four Hills Tournament winners have their say. Check out the podcast episode with Toni Innauer and listen to what Ernst Vettori has to say about ski jumping in the podcast.