Address: Pine Mountain Golf & Ski Resort N3332 Pine Mountain Rd Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Countie(s) trail is located in: Dickinson
Trail Type(s): Downhill Skiing
Trail Measurement:
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The Pine Mountain Ski Jump is one of the highest artificially created ski jumps in the world, located in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Dickinson County. It is part of the Kiwanis Ski Club and hosts annual FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup competitions. “Pine Mountain Slide is known throughout the world as one of the better jumping hills.” Annually in February, it “hosts jumpers from around the world at the best tournament in the United States.” Top-rated foreign jumpers compete. Currently (excluding ski flying hills) Pine Mountain holds the U.S. records for the longest jump in World Cup competition at 140m (459 feet), as well as the overall distance record at 143.5m (471 feet). The facility also includes two smaller ski jumping hills that are built into the hill northwest of the large hill. Attendance is about 20,000.
Specifications
- Scaffold height: 176 feet (54 m)
- Scaffold length: 117m
- Length of underhill (end of take-off to outrun): 632 feet (193 m)
- Length of underhill (end of scaffold to end of outrun): 1,032 feet (315 m)
- Critical point (K-point) of landing hill: 394 feet (120 m)
- Hill Size (HS): 133m
- Pitch of landing hill: 39°
- Estimated speed of skiers at takeoff (variable depending on wind and other factors): 55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)
History
Construction of the jump began in 1937 and was completed in 1938. At the time it was 156 feet (48 m) high. It hosted its first competition in 1939. In 1948, the outrun was a dugout, and in 1977 the inrun tower was made larger (to the current 176 feet (54 m)) after a fire. There have been numerous other renovations over the years. In 1996 and 2000 the hill hosted the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, bringing in 20,000 spectators. However, it has not hosted one since and now hosts annual FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup competitions.
Locally known as “Giant Pine Mountain,” it is reputed worldwide to be one of the best ski jumping facilities. The ski jumping fans are said to be friendly. It is also considered by most jumpers as the most challenging jump on the Continental Cup circuit and in the world. This partly is due to the fact that the top of the jump is nearly 600 feet above all of the surrounding landscape giving the jumpers the same view that they would have if they were standing on top of a 60 story skyscraper. Also, because of the jump and hill’s high rise above the surrounding landscape, there is a significant wind factor for jumpers making it more challenging.
Excluding ski flying hills, the Pine Mountain Ski Jump is the largest ski jump in the United States and it is between the 3rd and 8th tallest man-made ski jump in the world (depending on how height is measured). There are two other ski jumps in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan: Copper Peak is the only Ski flying venue in the western hemisphere, located near Ironwood, Michigan (and has been called “Suicide Hill”), as well as the pre-existing Suicide Hill Ski Jump located at Ishpeming, Michigan, which is near the National Ski Hall of Fame.
Jump Records
Below is the list of past and current record holders:
(Year) <> Distance (m) <> Distance (ft) <> Name <> Country
(1939) 78 meters (256 feet) Bob Rocker 
USA
(1941) 81.5 meters (267 feet) Alf Engen 
NOR
(1942) 88 meters (289 feet) Torger Tokle NOR
(1949) 89 meters (292 feet) Joe Perrault USA
(1949) 89.5 meters (294 feet) Matti Pietikäinen 
FIN
(1949) 90.5 meters (297 feet) Joe Perrault USA
(1955) 91.5 meters (300 feet) Rudy Maki USA
(1961) 96 meters (315 feet) Jim Brennan USA
(1962) 96.5 meters (317 feet) Pekka Tirkkinen FIN
(1965) 99 meters (325 feet) John Balfanz USA
(1968) 102 meters (335 feet) Adrian Watt USA
(1971) 105 meters (344 feet) Jerry Martin USA
(1978) 113 meters (371 feet) Gebhart Aberer 
AUT
(1980) 121.5 meters (399 feet) Armin Kogler AUT
(1991) 122 meters (400 feet) Werner Schuster AUT
(1996-02-18) 131.5 meters (431 feet) Masahiko Harada 
JPN
(1996-02-18) 131.5 meters (431 feet) Jens Weißflog 
GER
(1996-02-18) 140 meters (460 feet) Masahiko Harada JPN
(2002-02-23) 142 meters (466 feet) Kalle Keituri FIN
(2004-02-21) 142 meters (466 feet) Olav Magne Dønnem NOR
(2006-02-18) 142.5 meters (468 feet) Stefan Kaiser AUT
(2009-02-15) 142.5 meters (468 feet) Lukas Müller AUT
(2009-02-15) 143.5 meters (471 feet) Stefan Thurnbichler AUT
Getting There
From US Highway 2 in town (Iron Mountain), turn west onto Kent Street just south of the Chapin Pit, and follow the signs. In about 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km), look for Upper Pine Mountain Road which winds up to the hilltop. There is no charge. The view from the observation deck at the top of the jump is about 30 miles (48 km).
References and More Info
- Wikipedia
- Compass Latitude: 45°50’21.5″N
- Compass Longitude: 88°05’18.1″W
- Numeric Latitude: 45.839302
- Numeric Longitude: ‘-88.088375
- Elevation in Feet:
- Elevation in Meters:
- Trail Measurement:
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