The Nansen Ski Jump

[makimono]

Was up in the Berlin, NH area over the weekend with my Jeep club and we stopped at the Nansen ski jump for a quick hike. They've recently cleared the landing slope and all around the jump itself - not sure what the plans are for it - but if you google older pics you'll see how completely overgrown it had become. It's pretty darn impressive and the steel structure looks to be in very good condition still, although all the wooden planking is badly deteriorated.

Here's some pics

 

[octopus]

abandoned ski jumps ftw! did u climb to the top?

 

[makimono]

I didn't but you could...you'd need to be super careful. One of the guys I was with climbed up the lowest tressle onto the stairs (the bottom ten feet of the stairs have been removed) and climbed up onto the jump but didn't go any higher. The stairs going up the jump are the same design as the stairs going up the slope - rotted wood in the middle and only two little tabs on either side are steel - so you'd want to place each step over steel not wood.

 

[thetrailboss]

What is that steel structure in the third and fourth picture on the slope? The remains of a stairwell?

 

[makimono]

Yes that's the staircase going up the slope. It would have originally had ~2x6 wooden treads that were removed at some point.

 

[ThinkSnow]

Great pictures, thanks for posting. Every time I drive by that I wish I had time to take some photos.

 

[makimono]

Here's a couple cool sites with some great historical photo's and video:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nh-parks-recreation/sets/72157640967896414/

http://nhpr.org/post/marking-history-nansen-ski-jump-milan

I'll post the video directly for the link-weary...

 

[urungus]

Good article on the revitalization of the jump

‘Big Nansen’ Awakening From Slumber - InDepthNH.org

An ambitious effort to restore what once was known as the highest ski jump in the world is progressing in New Hampshire’s North Country, but the project will require additional fundraising to enter the next phase.

indepthnh.org

 

[Newpylong]

They are planning to revitalize the jump, and actually build two smaller ones for younger kids. We have a camp in Errol so got to see the progress every drive through this summer. They had dozers on the slope, no thanks.

Surprised the decking is that bad it was entirely replaced with PT in 2017 and two people jumped it. No maintenance since though.

 

[skef]

Ha, I came across the jump en route from Saddleback to Loon late this spring.

And there's this post today on unofficalnetworks. Coincidence, or are they trawling the forums for material?

 

[urungus]

Ha, I came across the jump en route from Saddleback to Loon late this spring.

And there's this post today on unofficalnetworks. Coincidence, or are they trawling the forums for material?

LOL, I stole it from Unofficial Networks (but then went back to the source article)

 

[Granite1]

A side note, NH is the only state in the country that has Ski Jumping as a sanctioned high school varsity sport. About a dozen schools in the state participate, and there are a lot smaller jumps in the state. There's a really cool one in the woods just off the Kancamaugus Highway not to far from Route 16. It's the home hill for the high school team from North Conway. We also have bowling and bass fishing as sanctioned high school sports with state champs every year.

 

[2Planker]

I remember jumping events being held there in the 70's & early 80's.

Anyone recall the one off the SR access Rd. ?
Also built in the 30's, Gould Academy used it all thru the 70's & 80's.
It was taken down in the mid 90's
http://www.skisprungschanzen.com/EN/Ski+Jumps/USA-United+States/ME-Maine/Bethel/0704/

 

[urungus]

Once-dilapidated Nansen Ski Jumps returning to competitive use

MILAN, N.H. — Competitive ski jumping will return to the Mount Washington Valley this weekend at the Nansen Ski Jumps after a 37-year lapse, and one can feel the excitement.Jumpers from across New England will compete on the newly created 39-meter and...

www.vnews.com

 

[urungus]

Ski jumping draws a crowd, highlights 100th winter carnival

MILAN — Blue skies, good snow and a beautiful winter day drew thousands Sunday to watch the return of competitive ski jumping to the region after a 37-year absence. While

www.conwaydailysun.com

 

[puckoach]

Awesome! Thanks for keeping us informed.

 

[eatskisleep]

Once-dilapidated Nansen Ski Jumps returning to competitive use

MILAN, N.H. — Competitive ski jumping will return to the Mount Washington Valley this weekend at the Nansen Ski Jumps after a 37-year lapse, and one can feel the excitement.Jumpers from across New England will compete on the newly created 39-meter and...

www.vnews.com

Man, that is awesome!! Some good history!