Montafoner Schanzenzentrum

The Montafoner Schanzenzentrum stands in Tschagguns, a village in the Montafon valley of Vorarlberg. It is a complex of modern ski-jump hills built on the site of the old Zelfenschanze. The valley is framed by the Rätikon and Silvretta ranges, giving the jumps a dramatic Alpine backdrop. The centre is worth visiting because it revives a historic venue. The original K80 jump opened in 1938 and once held 6,000 spectators. Josef Bradl, holder of the world ski-flying record, made the first 80-metre jump in Austria there. After the Second World War the hill hosted Austrian championships and set a national record of 87 metres. In the 1960s it fell into disuse until 2007, when plans were made to rebuild it. Visitors find four jumps: two small ones for K20 and K35, a medium K60 hill, and a normal K95 hill with a hill size of 108 metres. The landing areas are covered with plastic mats so the jumps can be used in summer. In 2014 the centre opened with a festival attended by 700 guests and a public day drawing 2,000 people. Since then it has staged the Alpencup, the Austrian championships, and events for the European Youth Olympic Festival.