A thrilling whoosh of skis. That’s the sound of Holtekollen. Holtekollen wasn’t just any ski jump. It was a Danish dream. Inspired by Oslo’s Holmenkollen it rose in Geels Skov near Copenhagen in 1943. Three jumps dominated the landscape. The largest a daring 40 meters.
Holtekollen saw international competitions. Snow was even imported from Norway by train. Imagine the spectacle. Thousands of spectators. Birger Ruud held the record for a time. His 36-meter jump was legendary. Ole Geitsund later surpassed him with an incredible 37-meter leap.
The Danish ski jumping championships were held here. In 1960 they used scraped ice from Rødovre Ice Stadium as snow. A resourceful solution. The wooden structures eventually deteriorated. They were sadly demolished in 1965.
A smaller jump was built. It hosted the Danish championships again in 1970. The last competition was attempted in 1996. Sadly it was cancelled due to lack of snow. The remaining structure became a viewpoint. It was finally taken down in 2006.
Holtekollen hosted thrilling events. It drew huge crowds. The best jumpers from Norway and beyond competed. It was a symbol of Danish winter sports. The names of Mogens Balslev Poul Elnegaard and the young Jorgen Klokholm resonate with history. Tom Klokholm became a champion. He won six Danish senior championships. His 25-meter jump on the large hill was a landmark achievement. Young Nikolaj Blinkenberg Willadsen set a new record of 11.5 meters on the smaller hill. He was only 13.
Today Holtekollen is a sledding hill. But its legacy remains. It’s a testament to the spirit of competition. A reminder of a time when snow was imported. A story of dedication and community. A chapter in Danish sports history. Remember the thrill of the whoosh. Remember Holtekollen.