All Stations of the Four Hills Tournament

Since 1953, both the best of the ski jumping elite as well as thousands of winter sports fans have been coming to the Four Hills Tournament around New Year’s Day. The first stop of the Four Hills Tournament is traditionally Oberstdorf. Next, it’s off to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for New Year’s ski jumping. After that, it’s Innsbruck’s turn and the finale takes place in Bischofshofen. For winter sports fans, all 4 stations of the Four Hills Tournament are perfect for their next skiing holiday because in addition to the excitement they experience during the competitions, at least one top ski area is also open to them in or around each venue. SnowTrex knows the details of the four stations and would like to tell you more about them below.

© Skisport und Veranstaltungs GmbH

Cheering crowd at the Four Hills Tournament.

1. The Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf

Overall height Schattenbergschanze: 140 m

In-run length Schattenbergschanze: 105,5 m

The Schattenbergschanze is one of the most important ski jumping hills in the world: since 1973, it has been one of the 5 World Championships hills where the World Ski Jumping Championships are held at regular intervals. In addition, around 30,000 fans gather here every year when the Four Hills Tournament opens in the Erdinger Arena at the end of December.

However, Oberstdorf is not just known for its ski jump: it is also one of the most important German winter sports centres, which is why several ski areas are grouped around the “southernmost spot in Germany”. The two-country ski region Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal has a total of 128 km of pistes. These include the Fellhorn-Kanzelwand, Söllereck, Walmendingerhorn, Ifen and the Heuberg Arena. Incidentally, the Nebelhorn is also home to Germany’s longest valley run at 7.5 km!

2. The Four Hills Tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Overall height Große Olympiaschanze: 149 m

In-run length Große Olympiaschanze: 103,5 m

Beautiful, elegant and a new landmark of the city: In the winter of 2007/2008, the new construction of the Große Olympiaschanze replaced the previous Olympic jump, which had been built in preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Around 30,000 spectators are drawn here every year at New Year’s.

With its location at the foot of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze (2,962 m), Garmisch-Partenkirchen is Germany’s #1 winter sports resort. In addition to the Four Hills Tournament, the Winter Olympics and the World Ski Championships have also taken place here. Winter sports fans have the choice between the glacier ski area on the Zugspitze and the “Garmisch-Classic” area, which is spread over the local mountain, the Kreuzeck and the Alpspitze. One of the highlights: the legendary Kandahar run at Kreuzeck.

3. The Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck

Overall height Bergisel-Schanze: 130 m

In-run length Bergisel-Schanze: 98 m

With its futuristically-designed starting tower, the Bergisel-Schanze of Innsbruck has become even more of an eye-catcher since its modernization in 2002. A special feature here is the view of Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains thanks to its proximity to the city.

Innsbruck is also considered the “Capital of the Alps”. This metropolis is the only city to have hosted the Winter Olympics three times (1964, 1976 and the 2012 Youth Olympic Games). Nine ski areas form the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck and can all be reached quickly from Innsbruck with the free ski bus. The Nordkettenbahnen and the Patscherkofel with its men’s Olympic downhill run are also close to the city. In addition, there are the Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm, Kühtai, Rangger Köpfl, Glungezer, Schlick 2000 and the Stubai Glacier, the largest glacier ski area in Austria.

4. The Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen

Overall height Paul-Außerleiner-Schanze: 132,5 m

In-run length Paul-Außerleiner-Schanze: 125 m

The Paul-Außerleiner-Schanze is named in honour of the Austrian ski jumper who fell here so badly in 1952 that he died of his injuries a few days later. It is one of the largest hills in the FIS World Cup.

Bischofshofen, the “city with swing”, lies in the middle of the Ski amadé world. It’s just a few kilometres away from St. Johann/Alpendorf and Mühlbach am Hochkönig. When snow conditions are good, you can even ski down the 8 km long “Knappensteig” ski tour run to Bischofshofen. Flachau or Grossarl are also not too far away.

5. The Record Winners of the Four Hills Tournament

6. Anthems

By the way: the Four Hills Tournament is also accompanied by anthems. For example, here is the anthem of the 2018/19 season:

All we can say is: let’s go!