In the mid 1930s, Norge Ski Jump of Fox River Grove put its tiny resort town on the map as it created a tower up the bleachers of Soldier Field.
From this wooden structure tower, daring ski jumpers would leap and fly through the air, landing hundreds of feet from the take-off point and gliding across the length of the football field. This feat understandably wowed the thousands of spectators who got to see this new and unbelievable sport of ski jumping for the first time.
In 1944, the club again built a platform down the bleachers behind home plate at Wrigley Field. The best jumpers in the nation were on hand to perform as a fund-raiser to raise money toward the war effort.
In later years, crowds packed the Norge tournament at their home Fox River Grove ski jump, reaching attendances of 30,000 onlookers. The club, at the time, had produced three national champions.
Four years ago, Norge had achieved an incredible feat by placing three of the four US Olympic ski jump team members from Norge Ski Club: Michael Glasder of Cary, IL, Casey Larson of Barrington, IL, and Keving Bickner of Wauconda, IL.
And now, four more years later, Kevin Bickner has once again made the US Olympic Ski Jumping Team and there is still time for Casey Larson, along with Norge’s Patrick Gasienica from Cary, IL.
All the action begins at Norge in Fox River Grove on Jan. 29th and 30th (the last weekend in Jan.) at 12 noon both days. Gates open at 11:00 AM. Admission at the gate is $20. However, tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 at the following locations:
In Fox River Grove: Jewel, Ace Hardware, King Pin, Dead End, or Tinman’s.
In Cary: Jewel, Spring Beach Tavern, Maple Tree, Kojak’s, Hidden Tap.
In Barrington: Viking Sport, Onion Pub
In Island Lake: 3D Bowling
In McHenry: Kief’s Reef
In Holiday Hills: All Inn Pub-N-Grub
For further information, go to:
www.norgeskiclub.com / (847) 639-9718
OR Charlie Sedivec (847) 630-4328
