Ski Jumping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula!
Is alive and well.... It was the first time I have had a chance to attend the competition at Suicide Hill in Ishpeming Michigan in over 30 years. I was not disappointed. 
You can view the pictures and videos that I took at this link:
http://afotographer.smugmug.com/Events/Suicide-Hill-Ski-Jumping-2012/21392492_WfTPWP#!i=1704352436&k=W8MZ7rf&lb=1&s=A
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My best friend was a very good nordic skier and also jumped. He dislocated both knees, one twice, jumping. 
I told the coach "No way!" 
They used to throw pine needles on the landing zone so the jumpers could have better depth perception. The rest of teams would line up along the jump and spot the landings.
On Suicide Hill they use boughs ... the make lines across the landing area to help spotters to identify the distance but also for the jumpers to see the landing better.
The first North American record was 37 feet in 1887 on a hill in Minnesota... by 1904 it was 82 feet on a hill here in Ishpeming.
In 1917 the first 200 foot jump took place in Steamboat Springs by Henry Hall an Ishpeming Ski Club member.
Joe Perrault set new standards in 1949 of 293 and 297 in Iron Mountain Michigan...
Suicide Hill's record is now 335 feet.... but the North American record is now 518 feet held by Werner Schuster at Copper Peak in Ironwood Michigan last year.
I think I could have handled the 37 foot mark....
Never seen those here before.
I think all the publicity about the BP disaster might have actually helped winter tourism in the long run.
Who knew?
It's been in the mid 70s all last week.
In the mid 60s today.
