Link's Report - by Bob (Link) Wicklund
Keep reading ... after this preliminary report and the summary of the top six
jumpers each day, you'll get a very personal account of the event, including
what it's like to watch a tournament from a spot halfway up the landing slope,
within about 20 or 30 feet from where the jumpers are landing. It's a very
real and personal look at a major tournament with world-class competitors on
a hill with slightly more landing room than the biggest jump at the Olympics.
With that introduction, here's Bob's commentary ... enjoy the images!
Saturday
The jumping finished at 3:10 pm. There were two official rounds,
then a 3rd "Long Standing Jump" round which was unofficial (too bad).
The first round was in a snow like a fog, snow accumulated 2" during the
first round. The second round, no snow, little wind. The Finns did
their thing, enjoying the snow and hoping for more wind for more ride.
When Lassi Huuskonen was asked after his 2nd ride of 126m (430ft) he
said, "...can do better, not happy with 430 ft."
Then, Arttu Lappi sailed 458 ft, and he chuckled and said to Mike Carr,
of WJNR radio, "I can do better, could go a few more meters", in a
Finnish accent.
Next, out sailed Kalle Keituri, 140m (459ft) ties the hill record!
"Great ride," Carr says, and Kalle, short of breath says, "Ya, I know."
He couldn't speak, needed to catch his breath. Horns were honking like
crazy!!!
Daniela Iraschko, from Austria, said she was "happy for the hill,"
and M. Carr says she is cute.
Then, came the third (unofficial) round, Long Standing Jump.
Markus Eigentler, Austria really lays on the boards for a 132m/433ft leap.
That set the Finns off, Lassi Huuskonen lays into it for 136m/446ft.
followed by Kalle Keituri for a whopping 142m/465ft!!!
Here's a summary of the top six jumpers. Distances shown, points coming later.
Sunday's temperatures were in the 40s, so conditions were slower than Saturday.
No records were broken, but it was a great day of jumping. The "long standing"
round ended shortly after 3:00, as it had the day before.
The top six finishers on Sunday were as follows:
To this day, here I am again, on top of the great Pine Mountain landing
viewing a spectacle, Michigan countryside in its grandeur. The cars
are pulling in, people like bees and ants streaming about seeking their
spot. The outdoor chill of air entering your nostrils, clean, pure,
winter air ...
Whoosh, a skier just leaves the take-off at 60 miles per
hour, just behind you. (I wasn't paying attention to the trial run in
progress). Gets your mind back to the hill. The best experience is to
feel the chill on your face, hear the ski sounds and see the art of that
skier out there flying for hundreds of feet over the vast landing and
smoothly whacking down a loud, distinct "puck" sound.
If you stand at the end of the out-run and observe the skier in flight
approaching, you will be amazed to witness the steering being done as he
aims to remain in the center line of the landing, like weaving from side
to side of the landing. What a phenomenal sight! I once saw a skier
veer out over the side of the crowd, then steer back onto the landing
and still set down at a distance of one and a third football fields.
(400 feet).
Skiers are getting serious, the end of trial jumping in near. People
all around are commenting on Saturday's event, "was the best ski
tournament they have been at in their life." The skiers are talking,,
"Pine Mountain is the finest 120 meter hill in the world." Wow, makes
me proud. But that's only for knowing what's to come.
The ceremony is opened by John Ritchig, an Iron Mountain citizen singing
"God Bless the USA" and inserting..."from the Great Lakes of Michigan,
to the mountains of....", you know the words. Next, our "National
Anthem," sung by a Norway, MI youth,( I'd guess 14 years old), Jason
Raiche, forcing tears from pride and goose bumps from adrenaline, man,
you feel good, and draw in a deep breath of cold air. The radio
announcers , Mike, John & Terry are talking about the couple getting
their marriage vows just Friday morning, right here on the same spot I'm
standing, Pine Mountain Ski Hill.!
Some Yooper jumper is leading the crowd, singing, "Hey baby, I wanna
know if you'd be my girl..." Mike & Terry ask him how his shoulder
injury is doing and he throws out his chest and says, "tomorrow I might
need surgery, but I'll make 'er today."
The starter bell rings and the classic begins. The hill is in
excellent shape, there were many 400 ft plus trial rides today. Daniela
Iraschko, 18 year old Austrian gal, sailed out 418 feet on her Sat.
trials. These youths have that talent, just need some more experience
and determination...wait 'til next year! Last night the skiers were
saying there are six meters yet in the hill past Kalle Keituri's 142
meter third jump Sat.. It would still be safe to land and remain
standing. Next year World Cup? Well, today and yesterday W.C.
officials are about, and were suitably impressed with Saturday's event.
The skiers continue to "whoosh" by, and they disappear down the crest
of the landing and appear shooting out onto the out-run below. They
appear to be about one and one half inches tall, after all, I feel like
I'm about 40 stories above them at this elevation.
Mike Nell, Canada tells us, "it's slower, snow is sticky," on his way
to the chair lifts.
Bruno Hauswirth, Switzerland, soars 104 meters (341 ft) on his first
round and comments, "air pressure, nice, good that time."
I'm working my way down the steps, along side the landing to get a
good view of touch downs, when Stefan Read, Canada (13 years old) sails
by...PUCK, 95 meters (312 feet). At the radio booth he's asked what he
thinks of the hill? "I like Pine Mountain, the hill has a well designed
profile for skiers." Knows more about skiing than any of us watching
the event.
In 1939, the site was designed and built, they knew what they were
doing. The jumpers sail into the north by north west prevailing wind
which gives the rider the needed lift to enhance distance and form.
Today's "V-Style" is perfect for such an updraft.
We have a 7 to 8 mile per hour head wind today, less than Saturday.
Yesterday, while visiting friends in the parking lot, I saw the
tailgaters grilling brats and burgers, it smelled great. There were
tents pitched with straw floors having couches and recliners about.
Just like home, don't see that at football games. These people know how
to tailgate, someone brought an ol' fashion wood cooking stove with the
stove pipe sticking six feet up and pots and kettles were heating up
their dinner, Spaghetti, Italian sausage, raviolis, red gravy, and
garlic bread in the oven, is '49er's coach Mariucci around? He grew up
here, after all! It's a good crowd, having fun and being impressed by
the performance of talent on the hill.
First round is completed, and the judges are tallying the distances
and form points. Tom Sandvold, Norway, had a nice jump after take off,
90 meters (295 ft) and tells us, "he'll try for more next jump." (For
those of you who don't understand meters and feet, simply multiply
meters times 3.2809 to convert to feet). A 100 meter flight is 328 feet.
The WJNR radio commentators have been talking with the skiers all
along, "good to have the Denney cousins (USA) here today, will they be
back next year? World Cup, they say, we'll see ..."
The second round, skiers experienced a shift in the wind. "It has
started to swirl about and even push down at our backs, making us
adjust, then lose distance," commented Lassi Huuskonen, Finland who
finished 29th today. We have to understand, natures changes
conditions which play a major role adjusting for performance and
distance. Today, warmer temperatures caused sticky snow, it's like an
"emergency brake" is on and you have to overcome the resistant force of
snow drag. Your timing has to change at take off, then encounter the
shifting winds with our "V-Style" form. All this makes a difference
in each ride down the mountain. "Some winds were pushing us to the
side, that's what happens."
More than half the jumps showed improvement in the second bout. The
starting gate was moved back to counter the slower speeds at take-off.
Take-off speeds were dropping throughout the match, from 58 mph to 52
mph were recorded.
The Long standing ride brought out the competitive spirit again,
today. As in the relaxed trial run this run showed that "pressures
off," relaxed effort came into action. We had Arttu Lappi, Finland
push his boards to sail 133.5 meters (438 ft), followed by Christian
Nagiller, Austria stretch out a 133 meter (436 ft) soar, and Norway's
Kim Roar Hansen pull out a 131 meter (430 ft) leap.
From yours truly, a great week end performance made by all facing
this giant Pine Mountain and all its haunting weather conditions. Each
year the weather is different, this variable contributes to the history
of distances earned at this Great Hill! Wishing you the best, and
hoping for the World Cup next year!
Bob (Link) Wicklund
Click BACK to return to SkiJumpingUSA.com
Your webmaster's old buddy, Bob Wicklund, lives near Iron Mountain
and he's provided us with commentary on the Saturday and Sunday Continental
Cup meets held on February 23 and 24, 2002.
Sunday
There is something about that Pine Mountain which brings me back again
and again. As I grew up in the area, we young 'uns would climb that
scaffold several times a year during the non-snow season. When eight and
nine years old, we started attending Pine Mountain Ski Jumping events.
Sometimes the schools would close, if a tournament was held over to
Monday due to inclement weather on Sunday. We would ski in from town
over the backside of the hill and up to the top of the landing. Even if
a ski button cost a nickel in them days, we couldn't afford it. On the
right side of the landing there were no steps, so that's where we kids
would venture and watch these famous, brave skiers slap their skis down
on the landing just twenty feet from our ears and eyes. If your buddy
above you would slip and glide (slide) into you, a chain reaction
started and twenty or thirty kids would come tumbling down the hill and
the parking lot cars would honk their horns in joy of the sight we made.
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