Members of the Norge Ski Jumping Club in Fox River Grove will assemble at the base of the 150’ ski jump as they have done for 109 years on Wednesday evening, Jan. 22 at 6PM. In preparation of this weekends international ski jumping competition. Dozens of club members as well as volunteers from the community and neighboring towns will take their place on the steps leading to the top of the magnificent structure and begin the century old task of passing up burlap bags of snow much the same way as the old bucket brigades would pass water to put out a fire.
Norge is certainly a leader in ski jump preparation as they are the oldest continuous running annual competition in North America. Snow has been imported from Michigan and Minnesota it has been shoveled off the ice of the Fox River, once it was scraped from the ice at the old Polar Dome at Santa’s Village in Dundee and twice the club purchased tons of ice from Jefferson Ice Co., crushed it and shoveled it down the hill.
Norge’s hill crew was very instrumental in the preparation of the ski jumps used in the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. Skiers from around the globe are already commenting how impressed they are with the fact that the club , despite the very odd weather conditions, are able to hold a tournament this weekend.
According to Norge spokesman Charlie Sedivec, “we could really use all the community and volunteer support we can muster this winter. The hill crew has been working around the clock and is exhausted. The more folks that will come out to help, the faster it will get done. With a good group of helpers we can be done in about 3 hours so come be a part of history!”
To get to the jump take Rt. 14 to School St. to Ski Hill Rd. Turn left 3 blks to Violet Ave. Go up the hill and you will see the tower on your right. Please park outside the gate.
To the press; once again thank you for your continued support. Wednesday will be a great photo opportunity as well of course as a means for us to get the word out about Sat. and Sun. Again thanks, Charlie Sedivec, Publicity Chairman Any questions please call 847/630-4328
http://www.norgeskiclub.com/