By Journal Staff

NEGAUNEE — The Ishpeming Ski Club is prepping for the longest consecutively held ski jumping tournament in the country next month.

The Ishpeming Ski Club’s 137th annual Ski Jumping Tournament held at the UP Nordic Ski Complex takes place from Friday through Sunday, Jan. 19 – 21.

“The tournament is on a weekend date once again and it’s going to be even bigger and better than last year,” Ishpeming Ski Club Vice President Peter Copenhaver said in an email. “It’s a winter event you will not want to miss.”

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with the 137th annual Ishpeming Ski Club Ski Jumping Tournament/USA Nordic U.S. Cup event on the famous Suicide Hill.

Attendees can watch by the huge bonfire, beer tent, food trucks and concessions as elite U.S. ski jumpers soar high through the air.

The first round of ski jumping begins at 7 p.m.

Continuing the weekend is the Paul Bietila Memorial Ski Jumping Tournament, where skiers compete in big-hill ski jumping.

“The skiers will be excited to have a second chance to show the crowd how far they can fly,” the press release said. “The evening’s competition will end with an exciting target jump where the athletes will compete for distance and accuracy.”

Fireworks will conclude the ski jumping competition on Saturday evening. The first round of ski jumping Saturday begins at 7 p.m.

Wrapping up the weekend is the Central Division Junior Ski Jumping Tournament. On Sunday, the ISC will host the junior ski jumping tournament where young skiers from throughout the Central Division compete to see who will stand on top of the podium.

This year’s junior tournament is a junior national qualifier for the USA Nordic Junior Championships in Alaska and will begin at 11 a.m.

New this year are online ticket sales, which can be found at ishskiclub.com. Tickets are $15 per person when purchased in advance and $20 at the gate.

Ages 12 and younger can get in for free.

Ishpeming Ski Club booster buttons will also be available for purchase at the following outlets:

≤ Ishpeming: West End Ski & Trail, Wilderness Sports, US Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, Elaine’s Place, Jasper Ridge Brewery, Jubilee Foods, Congress Pizzas and Buck’s Restaurant.

≤ Negaunee: Super One Foods, Midtown Bakery, Kassel’s Midway and Midway Rentals and Sales.

≤ Marquette: Sports Rack, Downwind Sports, Blackrocks Brewery, Ore Dock Brewery, Kognisjon Bryggeri and Queen City Running Company.

There are two options this year for parking passes and shuttle service.

≤ Option 1: Take a Checker/ISC shuttle and avoid parking hassles and fees. Park in a convenient, nearby designated park-and-ride shuttle lot and relax.

≤ Option 2: Park your vehicle at the UPNSC for $10 per vehicle each night. Only 225 vehicles are permitted each night.

Gates open at 3 p.m. Friday.

There will be no parking permitted along County Road and Cliffs Drive. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense, no exceptions.

For more information, visit ishskiclub.com.