Wurmberg Ski Jump
The Wurmberg Ski Jump was the largest ski jump in the Harz Mountains. It was located about 80 meters east of and a few meters below the Wurmberg summit. Its outrun faced northeast toward the Grosser Winterberg (906.4 meters) near Schierke in neighboring Saxony-Anhalt. The ski jump tower had an observation platform (see below).
It was built in 1922 as a 40-meter hill. Ski jumping events continued to take place there during the Cold War, even though the border fortifications to the GDR were just a few meters behind the outrun. The ski jump was first rebuilt in 1951 and, after many years, expanded to an 80-meter hill in 1984. In 1991, it was expanded to an 83-meter hill. During the last reconstruction of the ski jump in 2001/2002, it was completely renovated and expanded to a 90-meter hill. The new metal inrun track (heated) with a glass-ceramic coating offered all jumpers equal conditions during the approach. From 1996 to 2011, international ski jumping competitions for the FIS Continental Cup were held there every year when snow conditions were suitable.
In June 2014, Braunlage's mayor, Stefan Grote, ordered the demolition of the structure. The reason given was the alarming condition of the building's structure, which "threatened collapse during the next hurricane." Structural problems had also been known for some time, which is why renovation was temporarily considered. The construction of a new ski jump seems unrealistic; a new tower with an observation platform at a height of 1,000 meters is planned. The dismantling of the Wurmberg ski jump was completed at the end of August 2014.
Plans for a new building, expected to cost around €8.5 million, have been underway since 2018.