SCOTT HALVORSON
Berlin, NH
shalvor22@gmail.com
Everybody Loves the Big Nansen
Everybody loves the Big Nansen. Except, maybe, those that jumped off it?
Growing up in Berlin and going to the Carnivals, nothing could be better. Of course, I wasn’t doing any of the work. And, until I got involved in recent years, on the ground level, I thought that “magic” just happened. I’ve gotten an education, and what I’ve seen from other Clubs is beyond amazing and totally surpasses what I thought could be possible.
One of the most valuable gifts I’ve received has been getting to know many of the people and “legends” that have kept the sport of ski jumping going and flourishing. They have also helped me to dispel some of my myths.
One of the myths I held was that no jump was better than ours. How could it not be the best? It was the “tallest” and hosted the first U.S. Olympic Trials, and thousands flocked to watch in the early years. Did I mention that my grandfather was involved? My father was the fourth person off it, and my Mom was Carnival Queen. And boy did people love going to those Carnivals! Unless it was cold or snowy.
However, some of the unsolicited comments I’ve heard in these past years, regarding going off the Big Nansen, in the “good old days” have been less than complimentary and included: “I was terrified”, “I thought it was going topple over”, “the landing hill was like dropping down an elevator shaft”, “I got seasick with it rocking back and forth.”
Even Doug Lantz’s last line, in his “I’m a Ski Jumper” anthem, which I first heard at a New England Ski Jumping Nordic Combined (NESJNC) Reunion Dinner, lyrically summarized it ♫♫ : “Was I the only one afraid to jump Berlin?”♫♫
Maybe not everyone shared those opinions, but it seems obvious that the design wasn’t perfect. Watching old videos, about a third of the jumpers fell (virtually nobody falls these days), plus with the tower being 181’ tall, you’d expect leaps to be more than the low 200s, which was often the case with the record being 276’. No doubt improved equipment technology, and the talent and training of today’s jumpers play a big role in improved performance, but the empirical evidence seems to show that my beloved Big Nansen was flawed. I’ve now been able to let go of my “ Big Nansen was the Best” belief.
However, that doesn’t mean that it won’t be! Our goal for the “new” Big Nansen is to be the best!
As a lot of you know, we are restoring it. The landing hill has been completely reprofiled; the design for the structural reinforcement of the towers is complete, with this phase of the project to go out to bid soon; and professional design for all the other aspects is also complete. We are getting there!
In the meantime, I’m continuing my education as we hold events on our smaller jumps, bring kids into our new youth program, and connect with the whole ski jumping community. This sport, and the community that supports it, is incredible!
Myth be damned, this journey is so much more meaningful than any folktale that I may have previously embraced.
You can also Venmo this year! To donate, find us at @usaskijumping
Or send a check to:
USA Ski Jumping
PO Box 982331
Park City, UT 84098
