Salpausselkä, ski jumping venue in Lahti, Finland
Salpausselkä is a ski jumping hill in Lahti, Finland, featuring tall concrete towers and structured slopes where athletes launch themselves into the air. The facility includes multiple hills of varying sizes with long inruns, takeoff points, and landing areas, designed for competitions, training, and spectator seating that accommodates thousands.
The site gained prominence as a ski jumping venue in the 1970s with the construction of the large hill K116 in 1972, which soon hosted international competitions. Since then, the facility has hosted World Championships multiple times, including in 1978, 1989, 2001, and 2017, while being modernized with innovations like plastic matting for year-round jumping.
Salpausselkä is deeply rooted in Lahti's sports culture, with local residents growing up watching or participating in ski jumping as a core part of their community identity. The venue brings people together during major events, creating a festive atmosphere where the city celebrates its winter sports heritage through competitions and gatherings.
The venue is easily accessible from the city of Lahti and offers regular training sessions and competitions for athletes of all skill levels throughout the ski season. Visitors can explore the facility, admire the views from the towers, and join thousands of spectators in the stands during events.
The hill is built on a natural landform created about 12,000 years ago by melting glacier ice and is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark. This connection between ancient geological forces and modern sport creates a setting where visitors can experience both earth history and athletic achievement in one place.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
