Festive crowds, top skiers make Norge tournament soar
The hills were alive with the sound of cowbells and horns Sunday during the Norge Ski Club’s 119th annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament.
The weather was mild and the mood festive for Fox River Grove’s ultimate ski party.
An enthusiastic crowd estimated at 5,000, some wearing Viking horns, cheered top ski-jumpers from across the nation as they soared off Norge’s 70-meter ramp. Several spectators sat close to the action on folding chairs, while others enjoyed burgers and tacos or sipped Bloody Mary’s at tailgates and elsewhere on the grounds.
The Norge Ski Club has been a breeding ground for Olympic athletes, so the crowd could be assured of some serious jumping.
The parking lots as usual were filled prior to the event with tailgaters who downed shots and munched on bratwurst and other grilled meats. Footing was a bit tricky owing to a thick buildup of mud that also made driving treacherous.
One of the tailgaters, 20-year-old Sabina Sproch of Cary, is a ski jumper who’s sidelined with an injury. She said she was there to support her sister, Sandra Sproch, who was competing over the weekend.
Sproch competed for six years, but had to undergo six knee surgeries after tearing her ACL when she was 16. Still, she said she misses the action.
“It’s very fast in the beginning, but it literally feels like you’re flying,” she said. “You feel the air flowing through your hair, your face.”
Another tailgater, Woodstock resident Bill Martenson, had his vest covered with buttons, including one that said, “Have you hugged your Norwegian today?”
Martenson, 61, said he has been attending the event since he was 3 years old and even designed the buttons for several years. He remembers when people brought their Christmas trees and piled them up to create a huge bonfire.
“My dad used to bring me here when I was a kid,” he said. “So, it’s a tradition for us. I’ve been here in rain. I’ve been here in snow. Below zero. You name it. I’ve been here through thick and thin.”
For the ski jumpers, it is also a special event.
“This is really unique to any environment that we compete in in the U.S.,” said Colin Delaney, a coach from Lake Placid, New York and former Norge competitor.
Jumpers said conditions were slow on Saturday but dramatically improved Sunday.
“Yesterday, it was super foggy, and it felt like I was in a snow globe,” said Annie Misurek, 15, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
“The track is much faster than yesterday,” added jumper A.J. King of New Hampshire. “The ice is perfect.”
Tony Benzie, a skier from Iron Mountain, Michigan who jumped with a team from Eau Claire, praised the event.
“They put on a great tournament,” he said, “Always friendly. Family oriented. Great crowd. This is probably one of the better hills in the Midwest for training.”