Huge masses of snow engulfed the impact, the unusual weight causing them to slide down and destroy part of the bridge’s equipment.
The newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that the nets that were supposed to keep the snow at the top of the bridge did not hold.
19 days until the TCS final, and the hill in Bischofshofen looks like this.
Sure, there’s a lot of time, but I don’t think anyone in the club will have holidays off. pic.twitter.com/gPAcVMo5Xg— Jakub Balcerski (@JakubBalcerski) December 17, 2023
“It has never happened before. It really snowed a lot and also rained heavily. It must have been an incredible weight,” said Manfred Schutzenhofer, who is the head of the ski club in Bischofshofen. There is a high layer of hardened snow on the concrete at the impact. “But we have to manage,” he commanded in one breath to make quick repairs. According to him, canceling the Tour final on January 6 is out of the question.
In the pictures from the bridge, it is clear that an avalanche came down from the impact, the green background was revealed.
Among other things, the wooden boards that demarcate the landing parts of the area were destroyed. “The losses are not exactly calculated, but they are huge for us, six figures,” he added.
The organizers thus have their preparation diversified by unexpected drama, but they have already received help. The German center Klingenthal has provided spare nets against snow.
In Bischofshofen, the best jumpers will compete on Friday, January 5 in the qualification and on Saturday in the last competition of the Tour. She will start in Oberstdorf (December 29), then race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year’s Day and in Innsbruck (January 4).
