At first glance you might think that the image below is a Photoshop, but you’d be wrong, my friend. That’s an actual ski ramp built in — actually over — Soldier Field, with a tiny ski jumper in mid-flight, circa 1954. My thoughts: Chicago, wind, man in mid-air about 150 feet off the ground … what could possibly go wrong?

Here’s the thing under construction (it’s 165 feet at the taking-off point). Sheesh. DEPUTY DOG has a pretty amazing collection of photos of insane temporary ski jump ramps where ski jump ramps shouldn’t be; including one at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and one at Dodger Stadium. The 2022 Winter Olympics in Los Angeles … let’s get it done, people.

(Empire Stadium, Vancouver, 1958)

Totally wicked. More photos following the jump.

It was an era when crazy temporary ski jumps ruled the earth. And thankfully, they’re not extinct, as you’ll see at the link below.

“What did they use for snow?” you may be asking yourself. In the case of the Soldier Field ramp, they used crushed ice.

(Dodger Stadium, 1963)

(Los Angeles Coliseum, 1938)

(Empire Stadium, Vancouver, 1958. How do you get to the top?)

 Here’s the ‘Red Bull Snowscraper’ in New York City, February, 2009.

All glory to DEPUTY DOG.