Goliath Gelande makes one last showing

News Release
3/11/08
Loryn Kasten
970-385-2131
lkasten@durangomountain.com

GOLIATH GELANDE JUMP MAKES ONE LAST COMEBACK
Purgatory brings back the Gelande Jump for one final weekend

Durango, CO – If you’ve lived in Durango less than 10 years, it’s a mere fable that you might have caught once. But this weekend the glory days of the Purgatory Goliath Gelande Jump return for one last showing. With more than 300 inches of snow this winter season and the resources to use a world-class winch groomer, the Purgatory Mountain team decided conditions were just right to bring back the old classic.  This Sunday, watch as semi-sane skiers take flight off the recently rebuilt Goliath Gelande Jump, just south of the resort’s main entrance.

Professional competitors will practice on March 14th and 15th before taking the final stage on March 16th around 10 am. The goal: to have a good time and possibly break a world record. The current world record on 70 meters (the official Gelande) is 289 feet in Park City, Utah. Purgatory’s record is 254 feet by Phil Lamont in 1985. With upgrades in equipment and fast snow leading into the newly groomed trail, a jump just less than 300 feet is very feasible.

The Goliath Gelande Jump at Purgatory Mountain originated in 1966, built for Fort Lewis College and funded by the Durango Chamber of Commerce. In its early years the jump was used for NCAA Nordic Jumping and hosted the Western Regional Finals in 1969 and the North American Championship in 1970. In the early 1970’s the Gelande Jump morphed into a professional Alpine jump and hosted the North American Championships in 1979.  Professional competitions were hosted by Purgatory 5 times during the 70’s and once in the 80’s and 90’s. The last time competitors saw air on Purgatory’s Goliath Gelande Jump was 2001.

The jump is easily viewable from the Gelande Parking lot; so bring your friends and family up this weekend to witness history taking place one last time.

The competition is by invitation only. If you are interested in being invited please contact Dale Womack at Womack@frontier.net.

-www.durangomountainresort.com-