Have you seen live (in-person) ski jumping at Copper Peak (north of Ironwood)?

M

matti

Active member
Hello.

Our 10-year anniversary was Friday, so my wife and I took a day trip to the Ironwood area. We had a picnic lunch at Black River Harbor (cool place!) and also went to the very top of the Copper Peak ski jump. It was pretty windy, so the jump was definitely swaying a bit. I was pretty nervous at the very top, but still had a lot of fun. As I understand, the last ski jumping competition there was in 1994. (Although there are some videos on Youtube of people jumping off Copper Peak more recently; however, I don't think these were part of any competition.)

I can't imagine how crazy it would be to see people flying off that huge jump at 60+ mph! Have you ever seen anyone ski off the jump, in person? What was it like?
 
R

racerx

Active member
I have not seen jumps there but have seen it in northern Illinois at the Norge Ski Jump in Fox River Grove. They claim to have the oldest continually open ski club in the US. Definitely a site to see even the younger kids do it as there is multiple size jumps and it is a fun traditional outing around here. Three of the locals even made the last Olympic team.
 
hybrid

hybrid

Active member
thanks i am going to go check this out today
i had no idea it was there
i saw norge once about 20 years ago great party crazy high jump
used to sled the fox river and chain of lakes there too
super fun back then skippin the water holes
 
favoritos

favoritos

Well-known member
Isn't it actually ski flying?
Not to get technical, but it is a significant difference.
I have not been there for the ski flying events. I did see the hill climb events a couple times. Been up to the top a few times. It is a little nerve testing with the mesh grating and swaying.
I was there in the summer years ago when they were working on the slope with bulldozers. I can't imagine what it must have felt like to run a dozer on that slope. I couldn't see the cable turnbuckle or tie down point up top. It must have been quite the deal. They worked the slope with two dozers connected by a large cable that ran through the turnbuckle up top. One dozer would back down while pulling the other one up the slope.
I'm glad to see that it is back open for visitors.
 
C

chunk06

Active member
like favoritos said Copper Peak is a Ski Flying hill vs a ski jumping hill. there are only 5 or 6 flying hills in the world and Copper Peak is the only one in the Western hemisphere. Big difference between them. There is not much practicing for Ski flying (could you imagine) probably why it is not an Olympic event.
 
Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
They are in the process of re-building just about all of the structure. I have a buddy that is an iron worker and he has been there for a few weeks working on it.

The kid in that video is something else. Backwards down the entire ramp?! WHA!
 
M

matti

Active member
frnash said:
If you're ever aroung Ishpeming/Negaunee, MI, check out
(click →) Suicide Hill Ski Jump, on
Suicide Bowl Road (County Road PC), ≈ ¾ mile south of E Division St. (M-28 BUS)
Negaunee, MI 49866
View attachment 62084
(Click thumbnail for larger image.)

See also, from ABC10 News,January 21, 2020,
(click →) Suicide Hill Ski Jumping Tournament celebrates 133 years.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I have heard of Suicide Hill, but I didn't know where it was. We'll definitely make a trip there if we're in the Ishpeming area.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, that video is crazy. I came across it a few weeks ago and got serious butterflies in my stomach while watching it!

I spoke with an employee at Copper Peak and he said most of the main steel structure will not be replaced because it is still in good shape. Perhaps he was wrong and most of the steel needs to be replaced?

If they ever get live jumping there again, I definitely want to be there for it.

Thanks again.
 
hybrid

hybrid

Active member
i rode the bike up there today
beautiful weather nice drive
this place is very cool awesome views
defiantly will go back when the leaves change
they do a hill climb there ???
i did see what looked like some motorcycle trenches on the landing area
that would be cool to see
thanks
 
S

slimcake

Well-known member
Man my guts where rolling just watching the videos. That is alongggggg ways up there!! None for me thanks
 
F

fish633

New member
I attended the competition in 1978 I think that was one of the last held there.Athlete's from across the globe participated.A gentleman by the name of Henry Glass from Germany took first place.At the conclusion of competition my friend Dale and I tried to climb the landing hill it was darn near vertical can't imagine trying to get any kind of machine to go up
 
M

matti

Active member
fish633 said:
I attended the competition in 1978 I think that was one of the last held there.Athlete's from across the globe participated.A gentleman by the name of Henry Glass from Germany took first place.At the conclusion of competition my friend Dale and I tried to climb the landing hill it was darn near vertical can't imagine trying to get any kind of machine to go up
Click to expand...

Wow! You were trying to climb the landing hill on foot, yes?
 
W

wirev

New member
Don't remember all the particulars, but about 3-4 years ago there was a race up that hill. Can't remember what they called it.
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
This discussion brings a smile to my face brings back memories of Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsled team coming down their run on their heads. Both were lucky they weren’t killed. Lol
 
L

longtrack

Member
I was there in 78, The jump is so poorly engineered that they had to start below the bottom shoot or they would have overshot the Hill.

If I remember correctly they had to hang on a Rope and release.

The Whole Hill has been a Wreck, they had a fantastic Money making event with the Snowmobile Hill Climb and then made some Money and wanted
to start Ski flying again. Now you see the aftermath.
 
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