Suicide Hill Ski Jump is a 90-meter ski jump located in Negaunee, Michigan, and is part of the Ishpeming Ski Club. It is one of three major ski jumps located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the others being Copper Peak (a larger ski flying hill) and Pine Mountain Ski Jump). Suicide Hill has been in existence since 1925. Suicide Hill Ski Jump is located in a small valley known as Suicide Bowl. Suicide Bowl contains a total of five jumps: a 13-meter, 25-meter, 40-meter, 60-meter, and Suicide Hill at 90-meters. The 13-meter and 40-meter jumps are fitted with plastic for summer jumping. All five jumps are used during winter. Suicide Bowl also contains cross-country ski runs.
Specifications
HS 96
- Scaffold Height: 140 ft
- Hill Size: HS 96
- K-point: 90 meters
- Angle of take-off: 11.5 degrees
- Landing angle: 36.5 degrees
- Year of construction: 1925[1]
HS 66
- Hill Size: HS 66
- K-point: 60 meters
- Year of Construction: 1925[2]
History
Before the construction of the jump in 1925, numerous other hills and jumps were used for competitions. The first competition that took place in Ishpeming, Michigan was on February 25, 1882. Since 1887, an annual competition has taken place in the area. On February 26, 1926, Suicide Hill was opened for its first competition. The name "Suicide Hill" was given by a local newspaper reporter named Ted Butler after jumper Walter "Huns" Anderson was injured in 1926.[3] Due to this long history of ski jumping in the area, the National Ski Hall of Fame is located in Ishpeming.
Current records
- For the HS 96: 2003/03/02 102m Ferdinand Bader
Germany - For the HS 66: 2008/03/01 69.5m Adam Loomis
United States
List of Events Held
- February 26, 1926
- February 8, 2012
- February 6, 2013
- February 5, 2014
- January 27, 2015
- January 18, 2022
- January 20, 2023
Notes
- ↑ "Ishpeming". Ski Jumping Hill Archive » skisprungschanzen.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
- ↑ "Copper Peak, Ironwood".
- ↑ "Our History". Ishpeming Ski Club. 2018-06-26. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
The local newspaper reporter, Ted Butler, said "Sure it's a good hill, but why not have a little color about it. I gave it the name a few days before it was used in 1926. Walter Anderson fell in practice a few days before the meet and was badly hurt. In the stories I sent out about him, I called it Suicide Hill and the name stuck".
Further reading
- Baulch, Vivian M. (February 1, 2002). "Michigan's long history of ski jumping". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
