Kamil Stoch’s national record under threat as Slovenia approves Planica ski flying hill enlargement

Slovenia’s Council of Ministers has approved funding to modernize and enlarge the storied Letalnica ski flying hill in Planica, according to German outlet Focus and relayed by Przegląd Sportowy Onet.

The €2.69 million investment, financed by the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, is scheduled within Slovenia’s 2025–2028 national development plan, with completion targeted by December 2027. The project will fully reprofile the hill to meet the latest safety and technical standards and, crucially, to enable even longer flights — potentially up to about 270 meters.

Implications for records - The rebuild could open the door to breaking long‑standing distance marks. For Poland, it specifically puts Kamil Stoch’s national record of 251.5 m (set in Planica in 2017) at risk of being surpassed on the upgraded hill. - Stoch is due to retire after the 2025/26 season, so any new Polish mark would likely come from another athlete. - The current men’s world record is 254.5 m, held by Slovenia’s Domen Prevc.

Safety and timeline - Beyond distance, the reprofile aims to improve athlete safety by providing better control at higher speeds and longer flight phases. - The work is slated to be finished ahead of the 2028 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Planica.

If the projected performance envelope is realized, the expanded Letalnica could become the site of a new wave of record attempts — both world and national — while setting a new benchmark for ski flying venue safety and standards.