Gym Class #13: Ski Jumping from Norway to Illinois

Ski Jump, Photo by Krenda

 Ski jumping is one of three nordic skiing disciplines which includes cross-country skiing, ski-jumping, and nordic combined (cross-country plus jumping).  In 1808, ski jumping began in Norway and the first public competition was also held in Norway 54 years later (1862).  Not much longer, the sport came to the United States.  With so much publicity about skiing in Colorado, you might have thought it began in the West.  It actually began in the Midwest.  The first US ski-jump located in Red Wing, Minnesota.  Three Norwegians came over and started the ski club.

The places with ski jumping history still play an important role in ski jumping.  Norway holds the most medals (398 total).  For comparison, the US holds 17.  Mikkel Hemmerstvedt, a Norwegian immigrant, earned the first US distance record in Red Wing (1887) and then later Mikkel set a new world record (102 feet).  You can visit The American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum at the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minnesota.  This HOF is separate from the National Ski Hall of Fame, only focused on ski jumping.

The sport spread from the Midwest to the West and East.  Wisconsin now lists the most ski jump locations (Camero, Eau Claire, Madison, Wisconsin Rapids, Iola, and Westby).  While Illinois only has one ski jump location listed (Fox River Grove, Illinois), we fortunately live close enough to drive for an event without a hotel stay.  The Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove began early (1905) and remains a volunteer club to prepare athletes for Olympic-level competition.  It's considered one of the top learning centers for Olympic ski jumping in the USA with 5 jumps.  The jumps have availability year round and range from beginner to advanced jumps.  In 2018, three Norge Ski Club Olympic athletes (Mike Glader of Casey, Kevin Bickner formerly of Wauconda, Casey Larson of Barrington) traveled to Red Wing, Minnesota to accept the honor of American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame induction.

The sport has both Junior Tournaments and Masters Competitions (age 30 and older).  The International Ski Federation (FIS) organizes events.  Ski jumping existed in the Winter Olympics since 1924.  The FIS Nordic Ski Championship begin in 1925.  First held in France, the US held the competition in 1950 - the first championship outside Europe.  Switzerland hosted the first FIS Junior World Championship (1977) and the US hosted twice (Lake Placid, NY 1986, Park City 2017).  

If you live near Illinois, you should visit the Norge Ski Club Annual Tournament in the end of January.  For a small entrance fee, you can watch the skiers fly.  We especially were impressed with the kids flying off the 150 foot jump.  The crowd watches for the longest jump after descending from the ramp.  The announcer broadcasts the results and the crowd cheers.  There's some costumes and beer drinking, but a nice family event with many fearless adrenaline driven athlete.

 

Science Lesson #5: Ice Castles in Wisconsin & 10 Other Places to See Ice Castles

Ice Castles, Photo by Krenda

If you grew up watching Superman and the fantasy of the Fortress of Solitude and then have a daughter who loves Frozen and the magical winter landscapes, you might also dream of Ice Castles.

What began as a dad entertaining his kids in his Utah front yard, Ice Castles is now company providing a magical experience to thousand of visitor in multiple locations (Colorado, Utah, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Alberta).  We visited the Ice Castles in Wisconsin Dells.  Later years placed the Wisconsin Ice Castles in Lake Geneva.

The Ice Castles have impressive size with approximately 10,000 icicles, castles over 20 million pounds each, and can stand up to 30 feet high.  It can take approximately six weeks to build.

You can purchase tickets only (approximately $23) or book a hotel package.  We booked the hotel package through Mt. Olympus.  For the Lake Geneva location, check out Geneva National Resort or The Ridge Hotel for packages.

It captured my attention and we spent several hours, walking through the caves and tunnels in awe.  Entry was timed and I chose evening, so we could see the castles illuminated with bright LED lights.  Every area was unique and the artists told us every location and day is unique because the icicles are grown daily and hand placed.  I wasn't the only one smitten by the natural grand architecture and winter playground.  CNN, Travel & Leisure, and Oprah.com featured the event too.  Oprah.com describes the experience as magical too "magical...twinkling and sense-defying and straight out of fairytales."

We spent more time than we had planned.  Ditch the princess gown and crown, wear your warm snowpants and boots with grips.  You'll walk on bumpy paths of crushed and ice snow.  Your kids will see the ice slide and they could wait up to 30 minutes for the unique ride.  Also, take time to ask questions to the employees - they might be the ice artists and they provide more background about the castle construction and ice science.

The Ice Castles LLC made 3 of the 10 sites listed in Fodor's Travel "10 Amazing Ice Castles Around the World" by Annie Bruce (2017).  Here's the full list in case you are fortunate to travel around the world:

1.  Stratton Ice Castle- Stratton Mountain Resort, Vermont

2.  Snow Castle of Kemi - Kemi, Finland, biggest snow fort in the world

3.  Lincoln Ice Castle - Lincoln, New Hampshire

4.  Jungfraujoch Ice Palace - Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, among the highest in the world in the Swiss Alps

5.  Eden Prairie Ice Castles - Eden Prairie, MN

6.  Harbin Ice Festival - Harbin, China, largest ice festival in the world

7.  Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace - Saranac Lake, New York, castles as tall as 60 feet high

8.  The Fairmonth Chateau Lake Louise - Lake Louise, Alberta, giant blocks of ice

9.  The White Pines Cottage Resort - Calabogie, Ontario, 800 blocks of ice from Black Donald Lake

10.  Quebec Winter Carnival - Quebec City, Quebec called "Bonhomme's Palace" using 300 tons of ice