Norge Ski Club puts on annual summer tournament

This weekend, the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove is the place to be for elite and recreational ski jumpers, as well as their fans.

For the 25th annual year, the 105-year-old ski club will hold its summer ski jump tournament Saturday and Sunday.

The event is expected to draw between 20 and 25 athletes in the junior and masters categories and a sanctioned United States Ski and Snowboard Association supertour event that will feature Winter Olympic hopefuls, including Cary native Mike Glasder.

As well, between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators are expected to turn up over the weekend.

"It's exciting not only, of course, because you have some great ski jumping, but because this is coming up on an Olympic year," said Norge President Gene Brown.

But unlike the skiing you'll see in the 2010 Vancouver games, this competition won't feature any snow.

Skiers instead will jump from 40- and 70-meter hills lined with ceramic tracks and land on wet plastic mats. "That allows them to achieve about the same speeds as they would on snow or ice," Brown said, noting they will be hitting speeds of about 50 mph - 5 mph less than what they would achieve on snow and ice.

The younger juniors will jump off the 40-meter hill and that portion of the competition, which is free to watch, will take place at noon Saturday.

The gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the supertour tournament kicking off an hour later.

Local singer Brandy Martell will sign autographs as a prelude to the event, which will be followed by karaoke and a bonfire.

The supertour tournament involves Olympic hopefuls competing for points and cash prizes on the 70-meter hill.

Those skiers, along with juniors and masters - skiers 30 and older - will be jumping both days.

Sunday's activities begin with opening ceremonies at noon, the conclusion of the supertour tournament and the other classes of jumpers.

Pre-sale admission buttons cost $7 and you can buy them from Fox River Grove businesses through Friday.

Buttons at the gate cost $10 and there's only one admission price for two days of competition.

For details, visit norgeskiclub.com.