121st Winter Tournament brings high-flying fun to Norge Ski Club

Can you believe the Norge Ski Club's annual Winter Tournament has been going strong for 121 years?

Daring ski jumpers from across the U.S. will once again descend on Fox River Grove the weekend of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 to launch themselves into the sky to the delight of fans wearing Viking helmets and ringing cowbells.

The fun begins Saturday at noon with the Juniors, followed by intermediate ski jumpers on the 40-meter jump. The energy grows into the afternoon to the main event: Olympic hopefuls launch off the towering 70-meter jump. Sunday will feature the Big Hill Thrill action on the 70-meter jump all afternoon.

Enjoy food hot off the grill, plus beverages from Wild Onion Brewery, Miller Brewing and more!

The annual winter ski jump tournament will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road, Fox River Grove. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Bring lawn chairs; no carry-ins or dogs allowed.

Admission buttons can be bought for $20 directly from the Norge website, norgeskiclub.org, or from the following local merchants. Children, age 12 or younger, get in free. At the gate, it will be $25.

• Barrington: Viking Ski and Patio Shop, 131 W. Northwest Hwy.

• Cary: The Hidden Tap, 203 E. Main St.; Maple Tree Tap, 101 N. First St.; Jewel-Osco, 696 Northwest Hwy.; and Tipsy Goat Tavern, 100 Crystal St.

• Crystal Lake: Lucky Brake Bicycles, 470 W. Virginia St.

• Fox River Grove: Ace Hardware, 980 W. Route 22; Tin Man’s Pub, 926 W. Route 22; Jewel-Osco, 800 Northwest Hwy. (Route 14); King-Pin Lanes, 418 Lincoln Ave.; Nicks Barber Shop, 917 Route 22; and Dead End Bar and Grill, 98 Northwest Hwy.

• Lake Barrington: Onion Pub & Brewery, 22221 N. Pepper Road

• Island Lake: Sideouts Sports Tavern, 4018 Roberts Road

• McHenry: Kief’s Reef, 3505 S. Wright Road; and Meg’s Den, 906 Porten Road

• Palatine: Tap House Grill, 56 W. Wilson St.

• Port Barrington: Hermann’s Rest-A-While, 300 Center St.; and No Wake Bar and Grill, 99 Kazimour Drive

The Norge Ski Jump is the oldest operating ski jump in the nation, and it has spawned a lot of traditions over more than a century.

If Mother Nature doesn’t bring snow, Norge can make its own, provided the temperatures stay cold. Check Norge's website, and Facebook and Instagram pages, for weather updates as the tournament date approaches.