Nordic Competition Ski Jump Venue
Whistler, B.C.
The requirement for a k-125 and a k-95 ski jump facility for the 2010 Olympics led to the design of these facilities, completed in 2009, to suit the standards set by FISS, the world organization defining jump standards. They include the jumps, start-houses, judges tower, coaches stands, designed to suit the very steep jumping hill.

An important focus was to set the jumps right into the large trees of the Callaghan Valley, to protect the jumps from winds. The microclimate features immense snow falls of more than 3 metres of standing snow. The hill and outrun are sculpted to fitthe arch of the jumps so that the jumper is not more than 4 metres above the surface at any point. Jumpers start from rail-seats at varied heights from the top of the structure allowing judges to vary the length of jumps depending on the snow and wind conditions. The skiers ski in tracks cut in the ice surface of the jump by the maintenance tiller.

The ski jumps share the Nordic venue with the cross-country stadium, the biathlon stadium, and the day lodge. Competitors and spectators arrive by car or bus. Competitors are carried up the hill by chair lift to the starting towers. The views are spectacular. The plans for the facilities following the Olympic competition is for training or zip-line tourist attraction.