The hill, which is in danger of collapsing, has been in normal training use this winter.
There is a risk of collapse on the Puijon K 90 ski jumping hill in Kuopio. The situation was noticed during the condition inspection of the hill. There is serious damage to the frame and structure of Hyppyrimäki speed hill.
The risk is that, for example, stormy weather will break more of the main supports of the hill. This increases the risk of collapse.
– The mountain is off limits for the time being, says the head of sports services in the city of Kuopio Antti Riekkinen.
The hill has been jumped normally during the winter.
– No dangerous situations have arisen, says Riekkinen.
At the moment, it is forbidden to move around the jumping hills. Puijo’s fitness stairs are also on the edge of the danger zone.
– We are currently putting up signs that the fitness stairs are prohibited, Riekkinen says.
There is no danger to the ski slopes in the Puijo area from the ski jumping hill, so skiers can move in the area normally.
The thorough condition inspection of the K 90 hill will continue during April-June. The hill will be repaired in such a condition that the jumping hill and the surrounding area will remain safe.
The city of Kuopio’s press release states that at the moment it seems that the hill is no longer worth repairing, but the matter is still being investigated. If repair is impossible, the goal is to demolish the hill in a controlled manner.
Last December, it was reported that the Ministry of Education and Culture has elevated the renovation of Puijo’s ski jumping hills to a nationally significant top sports project.
In the financial plan it prepared, the ministry proposed that next year 750,000 euros will be allocated to improve the jumping hills. In the financial plan, the city of Kuopio has estimated that the renovation of the hills will cost around 4 million euros.