Member-only story
Holmenkollbakken, Oslo
A Long Name for a Longer Ski Jump
I drove towards this jump through a light fall of snow, and the top was hidden in mist. How on earth do skiers stand at the top and wilfully plunge down?
I loved seeing the dark grey jump against a light grey sky, until I thought about what it would actually take to ski down the thing. Despite the snow the air was calm. Personally, I think speeding down that thing in a strong cross-wind would prove terrifying.
There is also a gorgeous statue by the Norwegian artist Elene Engelsen. The Bokkja i bakken (The Dog on the Hill) immortalises the long-standing tradition of how, during the Holmenkollen World Cup, a dog would run onto the field during a break in the skiing.
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