Balbergbakken hosted three Norwegian Championships, in 1973, 1978 and 1983, and a FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in 1984.
The cost overruns were largely created by errors in the plans, which estimated too little earthwork to fill the hillside, and not enough blasting.
[2] The first trial jump was made by Helge Nordstrand, while Jan Stenbekk is credited with the first hill record, at 110.5 meters.
[1] In Lillehammer's bids for the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, Balbergbakken was the proposed site of ski jumping.
The venue was regarded as unsuitable; for instance NOK 30 million would have to be spent on building a new access road.
In addition, a new water and sewer system, new stands, participant facilities and a normal hill would have to be built.
[10] The World Cup race incurred a large loss, with the organizers only covering half of the NOK 260,000 it cost to host.