A first in Türkiye: Germans renovated, Slovenians are building

The large and normal ramps of the jumping towers, which are the first and only in Türkiye, located on Kiremitlik Hill in Palandöken district, were replaced and a special cooling system was installed on the ramps to provide icing in summer and winter.

Preparations have been largely completed on the 125-meter and 20- and 40-meter ramps in the towers, which are preparing to become one of the world's leading jumping towers with the new technology applied by removing the concrete parts and transforming them into durable wooden floors.

The ramp in question is planned to be put into service this year, and the others next year.

Erzurum Youth and Sports Provincial Director Levent Çakmur said that maintenance and repair continues in Türkiye's single jump towers.

Stating that the towers were put into service for Turkish athletes after they were brought to the country, Çakmur said, "The structure, which was put into service in 2011, shifted within 4 years due to hot and cold expansion and ground sliding. It was raised again for the 2017 EYOF, but there were problems again due to swelling related to the concrete floor and the steel structure underneath." he said.

Çakmur stated that as a result of the technical examinations carried out by the expert teams, it was decided to remove the concrete part and turn it into wood. "Based on these reports of the technical teams, samples from abroad were examined and project companies from Europe were discussed and a new project was drawn for the upper ramp and the track where the athletes fell. The German team renewed the ramps, and the Slovenian team is making the wooden part of this structure. Finally, it will be brought to international standards with the FIS certificate issued by the International Ski Federation." he said.

JUMPS ARE PLANNED TO BE DONE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER

Stating that the athletes can do their jumps in a short time, Çakmur continued as follows:

"Hopefully, at the end of this year, we will open the 125-meter large ramp and the small ramps of 20 and 40 meters to the service of our athletes. Hopefully, we will start the jumps of our Olympic athletes at the end of November. Our facility will once again become a beautiful place where jumping sports take place in Türkiye. Currently, there are approximately 30 children in the 14-year-old group in the infrastructure. Fatih Arda İpcioğlu and Muhammed Ali Bedir are doing camp training abroad, but as of December, they will now be doing international training. "They will prepare for the competitions by training in Türkiye during the periods when there is no federation program. Our goal is to make this place usable, strengthen our infrastructure, support our Olympic athletes and further expand the Olympic team pool."

Çakmur explained that they are working with the Turkish Ski Federation and said:

"They also support our athletes and provide technical support regarding the construction of this place. We are opening the big ramp, which we call 125'. We will try to complete half of the wooden flooring processes on the 95' ramp. Hopefully, we will try to open the 95' ramp next year. What we needed was the 125' ramp, which our Olympic athletes jump on now, and hopefully we will open it this year and allow our children to train here. Finally, in 2027 "Our facility, hotel and sports fields will be completely completed and ready for use in June. Our aim is to ensure that these children can train and participate in competitions in a better and healthier environment."