Salzburg, Austria (Ski Press)-Ski jumping legend takes “Glockner Jump” over High Alpine Road

Two-time Olympic ski jumping medal winner and three-time World Cup winner Andreas Goldberger completed the leap of his life on Austria’s highest mountain on the day of the official “breakthrough” of the meter-high snow that keeps the summit of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road closed for more than half the year.

Goldberger, who spent several days preparing the leap, jumped over the 98 feet and 5.10 inches wide road canyon after speeding down a 328 ft and 1.00787 in foot long makeshift ramp from an altitude of 8221 ft and 9.41732 in meters and made a picture-perfect telemark landing. “I was feeling a bit queasy beforehand. I didn’t sleep well the last few nights. No one’s ever tried anything like that before,” said the man known as “Goldi” while celebrating in front of four-meter high mounds of snow.

Goldberger and his team were in place at 6 a.m. waiting for ideal conditions. Goldberger, who flew 44 ft and 3.49606 in above the newly opened road, landed 190 ft and 3.46456 in clear from where he took off. “We didn’t know how much of a run-up I’d have to have to get across the trench or avoid crashing off the course. I’m totally happy.”

“For more than two thousand years people have been crossing over this important Alpine divide. No one’s ever done it before as a ski jumper,” said overall World Cup winner Thomas Morgenstern, who was on hand to witness the feat.

Along with Goldberger, who twice won the famous Four Hills ski jumping tournament, Snowboard star Stefan Gimpl, a fellow Austrian, as well as 22-year-old Freeskier Romain Grojean (FRA) also lifted off at the “Glockner Jump“ near the entrance of the south side of the high tunnel.

The snow plows are working non-stop at the moment, as they do each year, to clear the Alpine Road connecting the northern Austrian state of Salzburg with the southern state of Carinthia for the summer. The road will be officially opened on 1 May. The snow levels on the peak of the Grossglockner are often as high as a dozen meters. There was record a 68 ft and 10.7716 in of snow in 1953.