International Ski Jumpers Compete at 108th Norge Tournament this Weekend

It's that time of year when awe-inspiring athletes from all parts of the world converge on the 150-tall Norge Ski Jump in Fox River Grove.

Norge Ski Club is hosting its 108th Annual International Ski Jumping Tournament at noon on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 26 and 27.

The jump is located at 100 Ski Hill Rd., about 3/4 miles northwest of the Route 14 and Route 22 intersection, in Fox River Grove.

Norge is the longest running ski jump club in the country, its members say, and every year draws the world's top jumpers to its tournament. The event also attracts a large, jovial crowd of spectators - some adorned by Viking helmets and other attire to honor the club's Norwegian heritage. 

Come out and watch U.S. ski jumpers compete against international competitors on the 70-meter hill. 

Jumping Events

Saturday: The Junior Competition and the Junior National Championship Qualifier K70.

Sunday: K70 U.S. Cup Five Hills Tournament. Long-Standing Competition.

Admission Cost

Spectators can buy admission buttons, good for both days' admission, from local merchants in Fox River Grove for $10 each by Friday, Jan. 25.

Attendees also can purchase the buttons for $11 online by going to the Norge Ski Club webpage. On tournament days, the admission buttons are $15 each. Children 12 and under are free.

Parking is free.

Food

There'll be plenty of brats, hot dogs, pizza, beer, wine and more for purchase. Spectators are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to make their viewing as comfortable as possible. However, no carry-in coolers or dogs allowed.

Shuttle Bus Service

Free shuttle bus service will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday only. Pickups sites will be at Dominick's, at Route 22 and 14, and the Fox River Grove Metra Train Station, on Route 14.

Norge Ski Club History

(from Norge Ski Club website)

The club was started in 1905 by a group of Norwegian men. Most lived in Chicago and came out to Fox River Grove to ski jump. They created cottages on our club grounds to give them a place to stay while they were working on building up the club grounds or just having fun ski jumping. Over the years, men and women of all nationalities have joined the club to experience the thrills and enjoyment of ski jumping.

In the early years of the club, huge crowds came in from Chicago and its suburbs to see our tournaments.

The clubs has also had some promotional jumps. Once the Norge ski Club rented Navy Pier in Chicago and set up a jump where the jumpers landed in the water.

Another big event was when the Norge Ski Club rented Soldier Field in Chicago and built a huge scaffolding for a jump event. They used crushed ice instead of snow to jump from and land on. It must have been exciting to jump from this tower at Soldier Field (see attached photograph).