Cutting-edge hub for sky flyers just across the border

The Planica Nordic Centre in Slovenia, reopened in December 2015, is presented as a state‑of‑the‑art hub for ski jumping and ski flying.

Director Jelko Gros calls it “the largest ski jumping center in Europe, far ahead of Oberstdorf or Lillehammer,” during a guided visit for participants from Carinthia and Slovenia. Planica logs roughly 25,000 jumping days each year, with about half of that usage by Slovenians. On a sunny afternoon, junior athletes repeatedly launch down the complex’s hills.

Historically, Planica is the site of the first world record beyond 100 meters, and it once drew high‑profile spectators such as Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito. Today, the complex has evolved into a multi‑purpose high‑performance center that caters not only to ski jumpers but has reportedly also hosted astronaut training. Modern facilities and continuous development have kept Planica at the forefront of the sport.

The article positions Planica as an easy‑to‑reach, cross‑border destination for Austrian readers—highlighting its proximity to Carinthia—while underlining its role in both nurturing young talent and accommodating elite preparation across seasons.