Fox River Grove ski club fall jump this weekend
Fall doesn't evoke images of skiing, yet the slick slopes in Fox River Grove will be hopping during this weekend's 30th annual Norge Ski Club Autumn Ski Jump.
The event begins at noon Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, at Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road, north of routes 14 and 22 in Fox River Grove. Gates open at 11 a.m.
Organizers say the most common question they get is how do participants ski without snow.
"People don't usually think of ski jumping in the summer or autumn," said Gene Brown, corresponding board secretary for the Norge Ski Club. "They ski on ceramic and plastic mats. The 150-foot high tower actually has a ceramic track. When it's irrigated with water, it becomes very slick and it emulates an ice track that you would have in the winter time. Skiers jump more on plastic or that type of surface than they do on snow. We usually have tournaments twice a year."
The Norge Ski Tournament held each winter marked its 110th year in January.
The club - the oldest, continuously open ski club in the country - has five hills 5, 10, 25, 40 and 70 meters high.
Organizers are expecting about 50 ski jumpers from around the world to compete on the 70-meter hill starting around 2 p.m. Saturday, while several junior participants will compete on the smaller hills from noon to 4 p.m.
New this year is a musical jam session starting around 4 p.m. immediately after Saturday's tournament ends until 10 p.m. The lineup is: Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners, Alex and the Allstars, The Blues Daddy's, and The Blues Mavericks. After 4 p.m., Blues Music Fest tickets can be purchased at the gate for $10.
"This is the first time in a long time we've had a music fest in conjunction with our tournament," Brown said. "We are hoping to get 2,000 to 3,000 people over the course of the weekend. We may have people that just come to listen to the bands. People can stay and enjoy themselves. We like the idea of having sort of an Oktoberfest environment. We will have food and it will be a family-type event both for the ski jumping and music fest."
On Sunday, participants will compete in the K70 Big Hill Junior National Qualifier and competition.
"Skiers literally will be flying through the air," Brown said. "The tower itself sits 150 feet above the top of the hill. The slide is 232 feet long. They probably hit speeds of about 50 miles an hour."
Entrance buttons, good both days, are available for $10 in advance from local merchants, $11 online, or $15 at the gate. Admission is free for children 12 years and younger.
If you go
What: 30th annual Norge Ski Club Autumn Ski Jump and Music Jam
When: Competition is from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 11 a.m. Music fest starts at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road, north of routes 14 and 22 in Fox River Grove.
Admission: $10 in advance from local merchants, $11 online, or $15 at the gate. Free for children 12 years and younger.
Logistics: Parking is free. Patrons are advised to bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Details: visit <a href="http://www.norgeskiclub.com">norgeskiclub.com.</a>