I should add though…with both feet firmly planted on the ground. Like most people who move into the area, it didn’t take long for us to look out a car or train window while passing through Fox River Grove and wonder, “what the heck is that sticking way up in the air?” Eventually, we saw signs for the annual Norge Ski Jump and quickly put two and two together.
Admittedly, it did take over a decade but finally made it to Norge. Of course, that’s one of the challenges of living in McHenry County…there are so many things to see and places to go.
And to be fair, things that happen annually are much harder to get around to than things that happen every month or are open several days a week.
With the crazy weather this year–crazier than usual crazy–it was even postponed for a couple of weeks and might have gotten a little too close for comfort heading into the weekend as it was. This was, of course, no small feat and has only happened once before in the history of the Norge Ski Club…which started in 1905!
Address: 100 Ski Hill Road, Fox River Grove, IL 60021
Be sure to see the photos covering Saturday’s junior competition in our Norge Ski Jump Winter Tournament 2023 – Special Saturday Edition.
Postponing a sporting event is challenging as it is, but one that is not only affected by the weather but critically dependent on specific weather, is exponentially greater. Fortunately, the weather held off, at least enough to get us through the weekend.
Believe it or not, the Norge Ski Club is actually older than Fox River Grove, which was officially incorporated in 1919…14 years after the club started. Norge was started by a group of Norwegian men, mostly living in Chicago, who came out here to build up the club and ski jump.
The club has expanded since then, welcoming men and women of all nationalities, as well as ages. Norge Ski Club is also one of the leading ski jumping centers in America. They have five jumps, ranging from beginner to advanced, and their programs run throughout most of the year. Ironically, it’s the in-between times, too cold but not cold enough to make or maintain snow times, that are challenging.
They also have a Junior Ski Jumping Program that can be a great introduction to future ski jumpers, whether they hold dreams of Olympic medals or not.
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While Saturday had a bit of everything, including 5m, 10m, 25m, 40m, and 70m Junior National Qualifier action, Sunday was all about the big hill, with the Norge K70 US Cup competition and the Long-Standing Competition. The photos here are just a small sampling of Sunday’s US Cup action.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the weekend, and with snow for the jumpers and mild temperatures for the spectators, how could you not?! As someone who only ever experienced ski jumping by watching on TV, whether weekend sports or the Olympics, I have to say that it is a pretty cool treat to be able to watch it in person.
For reference, the K70, Norge’s longest jump, is considered a “medium” hill, while Olympic competitions are held on K90 (normal) and K120 (large) class hills. But don’t let that diminish anything. It’s amazing to watch live right here in our own “backyard,” and you never know when you may be watching the Olympics someday and be able to turn to someone and say, “I saw them jump at Norge when they were just getting started.” How cool would that be?
Beyond that potential Olympic connection, I was introduced to chili in omelets by a three-time Olympic champion…but that’s a whole other story for another day.
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Hope you enjoy the photos and hope you make it out to Norge the next chance you get! The Norge Ski Club is a nonprofit organization, so whether you are looking to try out ski jumping, want to introduce your kids to ski jumping, or are just looking for a local organization to support, I’m sure they would be happy to hear from you!
Be sure to see the photos covering Saturday’s junior competition in our Norge Ski Jump Winter Tournament 2023 – Special Saturday Edition.
President and Founder of Identity Developments, LLC, the parent company of the McHenry Life website. My hope for McHenry Life is to create a resource and destination for the residents and businesses of McHenry County alike. A place where residents can discover new places to explore, fun events and ways to spend time, and then share those experiences with others. A place where businesses can connect with existing and potential customers, and not simply market their businesses, but share their own unique stories.
