Iron Mountain (Michigan)

The Pine Mountain Ski Jump, located between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, is currently a HS 133 hill.
Two World Cup events were held there in 1996 and 2000.

Also before the two World Cup weekends, many exciting competitions took place in Iron Mountain. Olympians like Walt Bietila, Willie Erickson, Mark Konopacke, Rudy Maki, Butch Wedin and Dick Rahoi hail from this area.

An outstanding documentary, compiled by William John Cummings, takes people on a journey back in the history of ski jumping in Iron Mountain and the USA.

As shown on the historic pictures, the spectators in the USA like to get as close to the hill as possible by car. Many also remain in their cars during the competition and follow the action from there. This hasn't changed until today.

Weissflog, Harada and Schmitt win in the World Cup

Back to the recent past:

In 2000 Germany's Martin Schmitt won both competitions, Japanese Masahiko Harada and Jens Weissflog of Germany took the wins 1996.

Since 2001 FIS Continental Cup events are held regularly in Iron Mountain.

"Iron Mountain is one of the best organizers in the COC series, up to 7500 spectators come to watch the competitions. The events are real sports highlights in the Upper Michigan area, where normally the only other major sports events you can see live are held in Green Bay with the Green Bay Packers", FIS COC coordinator Host Tielmann explains the high interest.

Future of the hill secure

The modernization of the hill is already in progress since May 2015 in order to renew the FIS certificate, which is currently only valid until the end of 2015. "The modernization, for example new boards on the side of the in- and outrun and new athletes' areas, started already in May and will be completed by late October. The further steps will be made in 2016 and 2017. Nothing shall stand in the way of a certificate for the COC event this winter", said Horst Tielmann.

So the Pine Mountain Jump in Iron Mountain is of course on the calender for next season, with FIS Continental Cups on February 20th and 21st, 2016.

If you happen to be in the area then: It's definitely worth a visit.

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Another hill, a HS 95, is located in Eau Claire (Wisconsin)

In Eau Claire, about 100 km east of Minneapolis, a FIS Cup will be held for the first time in the upcoming winter. The organizing committee will host FIS Cup events in alternation with Brattleboro.

Also the organizers in Eau Claire already gained experiences in carrying out ski jumping competitions. In the past the US Springer Tour took place there, with an international field of competitors and up to 5000 spectators.

Source: fis-ski.com