Ski jumpers to compete at Norge

Daily Herald report

When word that one of the top Canadian ski jumping teams ever assembled was heading south to try and capture top honors at the annual Norge Ski Jumping Championships Sunday, Jan. 30, several European teams began packing their bags and securing their passports for the long 10-hour flight across the Atlantic.

Norway will be returning to the nation's oldest ski jumping competition in Fox River Grove after winning the meet last year. To compete in a tournament like Norge, which interpreted means “Norway,” is especially exciting, according to several of the young Norwegian ski jumpers.

Poland also put on quite a show for fans last year with some of the longest, most stylish jumps of the day.

Just two weeks after the Norge competition will be the Continental Cup International Ski Meet, held annually in Iron Mountain, Mich., on the nation's largest ski-jumping hill. Among the favorites to take top honors at Iron Mountain will be the Finnish jumping team. When the Finnish team realized that they will be in the Midwest during the Norge meet, they had to sign up their top gun A-team and stop over in Fox River Grove.

Michael Glasder will lead the Norge team of jumpers in an attempt to place a Norge skier atop the podium. Glasder has had his share of top honors at Norge and around the world.

The 106th annual competition will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road in Fox River Grove. The Junior Olympic qualifier K70 and Junior Competition will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29.

Admission is $15 at the gate or $10 in advance from local area merchants. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free. Buttons are required and good for both days.

Tickets are available in:

• Barrington: Viking Ski and Patio, 131 Northwest Hwy.; Village CycleSport, 203 W. Northwest Hwy.; Blue Heron Cafe, 405 W. Northwest Hwy.; and Yankee Doodle Bar, 311 E. Main St.

• Cary: Coleman's, 445 Industrial Drive; Spring Beach Inn, 189 Northwest Hwy.; Maple Tree Inn, 101 First St.; The Cuckoo's Nest, 100 Crystal St.; and Oberheide's Soft Landings, 203 E. Main St.

• Crystal Lake: Crystal Lake Ski and Bike, 905A Pyott Road.

• Fox River Grove: Ace, 980 Route 22; Car-X, 915 Route 22; Dominick's, 800 Northwest Hwy.; Dead End Bar and Grill, 98 Northwest Hwy.; King Pin Lanes, 418 Lincoln Ave.; Tin Man's Sports Pub, 926 Route 22; and Wild Bird Center, 934 Route 22

• Hinsdale: King Keyser Sporting Goods, 41 S. Washington St.

• Island Lake: Sideouts Bar and Eatery, 4018 Roberts Road

• Lake Barrington: RSVP Restaurant and Bar, 28682W. Northwest Hwy.; Kelsey Road House, 352 Kelsey Road

• Lake in the Hills, Alpine Accessories, 9219 S. Route 31.

• McHenry: Kief's Reif, 3505 S. Wright Road

• Port Barrington: Broken Oar, 614 Rawson Bridge Road

• Wauconda: Docks Bar & Grill, 313 E. Liberty St.

For information, call (847) 639-9718. Parking is free and there will be a free shuttle from the shopping center parking lot between Dominick's and Ace Hardware, routes 22 and 14. There will be food and beverage sold at the event. Gates open at 11 a.m. Coolers and pets are not allowed.