Pine Mountain Jump Explained

Hill Name:Pine Mountain Jump
Location:Pine Mountain
City:Iron Mountain, MI
Opened:1937
Renovated:1977
K-Spot:K-120
Hill Size:HS133
Hill Record: Marius Lindvik
(144 m in 2018)

The Pine Mountain Ski Jump is a ski jump located in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Dickinson County. It is part of the Kiwanis Ski Club and hosts annual FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup competitions.[1] "Pine Mountain Slide is known throughout the world as one of the better jumping hills." Annually in February, it "hosts jumpers from around the world at the best tournament in the United States." Top-rated foreign jumpers compete. Currently (excluding ski flying hills) Pine Mountain holds the U.S. records for the longest jump in World Cup competition at 140m (459 feet), as well as the overall distance record at 144m (472.44feet). The facility also includes two smaller ski jumping hills that are built into the hill northwest of the large hill. Attendance is about 20,000 ski jumping fans year around.[2]

Specifications

History

Construction of the jump began in 1937 and was completed in 1938. At the time it was 156feet high. It hosted its first competition in 1939. In 1948, the outrun was dug out, and in 1977 the inrun tower was made larger (to the current 176feet) after a fire. There have been numerous other renovations over the years. In 1996 and 2000 the hill hosted the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, bringing in 20,000 spectators. However, it has not hosted one since, and now hosts annual FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup competitions.[5]

Locally known as "Giant Pine Mountain," it is reputed worldwide to be one of the best ski jumping facilities. The ski jumping fans are said to be friendly. It is also considered by most jumpers as the most challenging jump on the Continental Cup circuit and in the world. This partly is due to the fact that the top of the jump is nearly 600 feet above all of the surrounding landscape giving the jumpers the same view that they would have if they were standing on top of a 60 story skyscraper. Also, because of the jump and hill's high rise above the surrounding landscape there is a significant wind factor for jumpers making it more challenging.[6]

Excluding ski flying hills, the Pine Mountain Ski Jump is the largest ski jump in the United States and it is between the 3rd and 8th tallest man-made ski jump in the world (depending on how height is measured).[7] There are two other ski jumps in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan: Copper Peak is the only Ski flying venue in the western hemisphere, located near Ironwood, Michigan (and has been called "Suicide hill"),[8] as well as the pre-existing Suicide Hill Ski Jump located at Ishpeming, Michigan, which is near the National Ski Hall of Fame.[8]

Jump records

Below is the list of past and current record holders:

YearDistance (m)Distance (ft)NameCountry
193978disp=tableNaNdisp=table United States
194181.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table NOR
194288disp=tableNaNdisp=table NOR
194989disp=tableNaNdisp=table United States
194989.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table FIN
194990.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table USA
195591.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table USA[9]
196196disp=tableNaNdisp=table USA
196296.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table FIN
196599disp=tableNaNdisp=table United States
1968102disp=tableNaNdisp=table United States
1971105disp=tableNaNdisp=table United States
1978113disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
1980121.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
1991122disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
1996-02-18131.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table JPN
2018-02-18138disp=tableNaNdisp=table POL
2017-02-18140.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table POL
2002-02-23142disp=tableNaNdisp=table FIN
2004-02-21142disp=tableNaNdisp=table NOR
2006-02-18142.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
2009-02-15142.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
2009-02-15143.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table AUT
2018-02-15144disp=tableNaNdisp=table NOR[10]

List of events held

The Pine Mountain ski jumping tournament has been part of the FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup every year since 2004 and with the exception of the occasional Winter Olympic Games or World Cup event, the tournament is annually the most prestigious and highest level ski jumping competition held in the Western Hemisphere. Below is an incomplete list of events held at the hill.[1] [2] [11]

Getting there

From US Highway 2 in town (Iron Mountain), turn west onto Kent Street just south of the Chapin Pit, and follow the signs. In about NaNmiles, look for Upper Pine Mountain Road which winds up to the hilltop. The view from the observation deck at the top of the jump is about .[4] There is no charge to use the observation deck.

External links

45.8354°N -88.0885°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiwanis Ski Club . Iron Mountain, Pine Mountain, 120 metre ski jump . February 12, 2011.
  2. Web site: Continental Cup Ski Jumping February 11, 12, & 13, 2011 . 2011 . Ski Jumping at the Pine Mountain Ski Jump, Iron Mountain, Michigan . Exploring the North . February 12, 2011.
  3. Web site: Iron Mountain.
  4. Web site: Iron Mountain, Pine Mountain Ski Jump . Hunt’s Guide to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula . February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: Ironwood Copper Peak . Ski Jumping Hill Archive . February 12, 2011.
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Discovering - UP200, Pine Mountain Ski Jumps . YouTube.
  7. Web site: World's largest ski jumps.
  8. News: Michigan's long history of ski jumping . Vivian M. . Baulch . . February 1, 2002 . February 13, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101221091916/http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=149 . 21 December 2010 .
  9. Web site: Brooks Dodge.
  10. News: Austrian teen wins at Pine Mountain. February 16, 2009 . Ron . Deuter . Iron Mountain . Daily Press . February 12, 2011.
  11. Dougoveto, John (2018) Pine Mountain ski jump: A History of Ski Jumping in the Iron Mountain Kingsford Area RRR Publishing OCLC 1080346979