NEGAUNEE - For the 125th consecutive year, ski jumpers launched themselves off of the jump at Suicide Bowl, continuing the long tradition of the Ishpeming Ski Club.
"It's really good," said club President Tom Petersen. "The hill is in fabulous shape ... I'm just elated."
Wednesday evening, spectators packed into Suicide Bowl, some gathered around two roaring bonfires, some watching from the warmth of their cars, watching as the ski jumpers flew.
"The skiers are really enjoying it because they haven't had a chance to ski on real snow," Petersen said of the lack of snow in other areas of the Midwest.
Wednesday's tournament welcomed a field of 20 ski jumpers, including two from Finland and five from the U.S. Ski Team, as well as other from clubs from around the Midwest, which makes up the sport's U.S. Central Division.
"It's not the biggest field of jumpers, but it's one of the best," Petersen said. "We should see some really good jumping."
The tournament was conducted in a series of rounds, with each jumper taking the hill four times, once in a trial round, two official competition rounds and then a long-standing round, in which jumpers are allowed to start as high up on the 90-meter scaffold as they want and then see how far they can jump.
Jumpers competed in three divisions, including Class A, Open Class and Junior Class.
Judges, watching in a box halfway up the hill, award points for speed, distance and style.
Taking first place in the Class A division was Christian Friberg, of St. Paul, Minn., followed by Anders Johnson of the U.S. Ski Team and Peter Frenette of the U.S. Ski Team.
Representing the Ishpeming Ski Club was Zak Hammill, jumping in the Open Class division. Hammill serves as coach for the younger members of the Ishpeming Ski Club.
"It feels good," Hammill said after jumping the trial round.
Although he watches the kids on his team jump every week, Hammill said he was a bit nervous having many of them in the crowd of spectators.
"I normally don't get to jump in front of people I know," he said.
As for jumping with the members of the U.S. Ski Team, Hammill said the tournament was almost a reunion.
"They're all good buddies," he said. "It's really good to see them."
The people watching the tournament ranged from former ski jumpers to longtime fans to those who had never seen the tournament before.
Angie Eagling of Negaunee said she had watched the tournaments as a child, but was watching Wednesday for the first time as an adult, prompted by her son Jake, 6, who joined the Ishpeming club in the fall.
"It's the first sport he's wanted to stick with," she said.
For Jake, who said he liked "everything" about ski jumping, the tournament was not only a chance to see his coach jump, but also to see competition on the 90-meter hill.
"I've never seen people jump off the 90," he said.
Despite warm weather last week, temperatures cooled enough this week to allow the 90-meter hill track to be iced and cut.
The tournament finished with an awards ceremony and fireworks to commemorate the event's 125th anniversary.
Johanna Boyle can be reached at 906-486-4401.
