Some of America’s most legendary ski jumps across the four states in the heartland of America will be showcased in January and February with USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Five Hills Tournament. The tournament is one of the country’s most prestigious ski jumping series and an incubator for future ski jumping stars. The entire tour will be broadcast live by USA Nordic TV.
The Five Hills Tournament takes place on some of America’s most storied ski jumping hills across the midwest with many of the local jumping clubs dating back over a century. The events will attract around 35 jumpers from up to five nations including rising U.S. junior jumpers. Thousands of fans are expected to pack many of the venues in some of ski jumpings longest standing events – each with a festive atmosphere for fans and athletes alike. The competitions are all sanctioned by the International Ski Federation.
The tour opens Friday and Saturday Jan. 18-19 with the Silver Mine Invitational in Eau Claire, Wis. It will mark the 133rd running of the event produced by the Flying Eagles Ski Club. Friday’s Eau Claire Energy Cooperative U.S. Cup Tournament opens with jumping at 7:00 p.m. on the 95 meter hill. Saturday’s Charter Bank 5 Hills Tournament includes morning nordic combined with jumping at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 20 the Five Hills Tournament tour heads west to Minneapolis for an important junior national championship qualifier event on the 78 meter hill at the Bush Lake Ski Jumps in suburban Bloomington. Competition begins at 5:00 p.m. The Minneapolis Ski Club has a long history in ski jumping and renovated its Bush Hill jumping complex in 2002.
The tour then travels across Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to one of America’s oldest ski jumps in Ishpeming, Mich. The third stop on the Five Hills Tournament is set for Ishpeming’s 96 meter Suicide Hill in nearby Negaunee Tuesday, Jan. 22. A nordic combined event will be held in the afternoon. The Ishpeming Ski Club is one of America’s oldest clubs and was the originator of the National Ski Association in 1905, now U.S. Ski & Snowboard. The event will mark the 132nd consecutive year for the Suicide Hill tournament – longest continual run in America.
Jumpers then head south for the Chicago area where the Norge Ski Club, founded in 1905, holds the fourth tour stop on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 26-27 on the 70 meter hill. Saturday’s event will be an important junior national qualifier with Sunday’s competition part of the U.S. Cup tour.
The Five Hills Tournament wraps up the first weekend in February at Westby in west central Wisconsin with jumping Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2 on the towering 123 meter jump. Friday’s jumping begins at 7:00 p.m. with Saturday’s round starting at 12:30 p.m. The Snowflake Ski Club dates back to 1922. Live music will be featured both days.
“The jumping clubs in the midwest are really core to our sport,” said USA Nordic Executive Director Bill Demong. “There’s such great history and festivity that it makes it a highlight of the season for jumpers. The competitions are also a vital platform for our future stars.”
Families and fans can tune in live for coverage on USA Nordic TV.
2019 USA NORDIC U.S. CUP FIVE HILLS TOURNAMENT TOUR
Jan. 18-19, Silver Mine Invitational, HS95m, Eau Claire, Wis.
Jan. 20, International Ski Jumping Competition, HS78m, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jan. 22, Suicide Hill Ski Tournament, HS96m, Ishpeming, Mich.
Jan. 26-27, International Winter Tournament, HS70m, Fox River Grove, Ill.
Feb. 1-2, Snowflake Ski Jumping Tournament, Westby, Wis.
