Noel Ekholm faces training challenges in Helsinki’s limited ski jumping facilities

Thirteen-year-old Noel Ekholm from Helsinki began practicing ski jumping about three years ago. However, he has been unable to train in his hometown for over a year due to poor ski jumping conditions in Helsinki. The city has only three small hills in Herttoniemi: K2, K15, and K22. The “K” in the hill’s name refers to the critical point after which the landing slope begins to flatten. For instance, K22’s critical point is 22 meters from the jump. While these hills are suitable for beginners, experienced junior jumpers quickly outgrow them.

Noel trains three times a week in Lahti with his father, reaching a personal best of 73 meters there. The round trip now takes around four to five hours. “It would be great to have a big jump here, where I could train within half an hour by bike or metro,” Noel expresses. The largest K46 jump was removed in 2017 due to the city’s claim of its poor condition, although local ski jumpers believe it could have been made safe.

The local ski club, Helsinki Ski Jumpers, has been in discussions with the city about building a new jump for three years. They have developed plans but face resistance due to the limited number of participants in the sport. The club’s chairman, Antti Kainulainen, estimates the construction costs about €250,000, which includes a building plan created with experts.

Currently, around ten active jumpers are part of the club, with about fifty individuals participating in jumps. The city claims that a new jump would be significantly more expensive than the club’s estimates, with costs projected to be between €800,000 and €1 million. However, Kainulainen argues that simpler constructions could be achieved for a fraction of that price. If club members were to build the jump themselves, the city is open to leasing the location but would require a credible financial plan. The club believes it cannot manage such a project unassisted.