While ski jumping may not get the same press as more traditional downhill skiing, it’s more than a novelty: it’s a tradition shaped by stories of speed and courage, of kids building jumps to burn off steam and generations who gather to socialize and watch skiers take flight. Ski jumping makes even lifelong winter sports fans ask, “Wait — people actually do that?”
Nowhere is that legacy more alive than at Pine Mountain Ski Jump in Iron Mountain, a place that has shaped ski jumping culture in the U.P. for nearly a century. Pine Mountain is also home to the FIS Continental Cup, a family-friendly, high-octane event that has been referred to as “the biggest tailgate in the Upper Peninsula.”
Built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration project, Pine Mountain rose from the hillside during a time when communities invested in both infrastructure and spirit. Since then, the jump has evolved, but its role as a gathering place has never changed. “Back in the day, every ski jump had its own personality,” says Lyle Boucher, who first jumped in the early 1950s and has been part of the sport ever since. “They skied differently. Pine Mountain had a personality all its own.”
The Upper Peninsula was once dotted with ski jumps. Munising, Ironwood, Ishpeming, Manistique and Iron Mountain each had clubs, jumps, and kids lining up to soar, Boucher shares. “Iron Mountain alone had three clubs - The Red Wings, the Vikings, and Niagara. Ski jumping was just part of growing up here.”
Ski jumping hills have become more standardized over time, but that wasn’t always the case. “These days there’s a lot more uniformity amongst the ski jumps,” Boucher said. “But back in the day, every ski jump had its own personality. They were completely different.”
He remembers Ironwood as a smaller hill with “tremendous air pressure,” where jumpers could “really lay on those boards.” Pine Mountain, in its original form, posed a different challenge altogether. “You’d come off that takeoff and for 110 feet it was dead air,” Boucher said. “Then you’d hit the wall and go down the elevator shaft.”
Boucher grew up in Kingsford Heights and made his first jump in 1952. Like many U.P. kids of that era, he found ski jumping early. “Mom would tell us kids to get out of the house and that’s where it all started,” he jokes.”We’d gather Christmas trees to pile up and make a takeoff on a jump.” Boucher went on to compete across the region — from Ironwood to Chicago, Madison to Sault Ste. Marie, ON — before returning decades later as an advocate, administrator and historian of the sport.
Today, Pine Mountain stands as the crown jewel of that tradition. Operated by the Kiwanis Ski Club, the jump has hosted elite competitions for decades, including World Cup events in 1996 and 2000. Each winter, it welcomes international athletes and thousands of spectators for the FIS Continental Cup — an event ranked just below the World Cup and known for showcasing rising global talent.
But to locals, Pine Mountain is as much a social event as a sporting spectacle. “You don’t have to know anything about ski jumping to enjoy it,” Boucher said. “It’s very social. You walk around and somebody hands you a sandwich, gives you something to drink, and you stop and chat. There’s nowhere like it anywhere in the world.”
That culture, equal parts athletic excellence and gritty, fun-loving U.P. hospitality, is what makes Pine Mountain unique. While European events draw massive crowds, Boucher says the tailgating tradition here is unmatched. Shanties pop up days in advance with heaters glowing inside as friends gather. “Green Bay Packers fans come up here to learn how to tailgate,” he jokes.
Behind the scenes, the jump itself has undergone major changes. A new galvanized steel tower replaced the old wooden scaffold in 2020, and the landing hill was meticulously reshaped to meet modern FIS specifications. “Now you just follow that contour so beautifully,” Boucher said. “It’s extremely safe to jump on that hill these days.” A new elevator, currently under construction, will soon make the tower accessible to more visitors year-round, offering sweeping views to those who once could only imagine the top.
Yet even as technology advances, the heart of the sport remains generational. Boucher lights up when he talks about young jumpers waving to him as they hike uphill, skis on shoulders. “That makes me so proud,” he said. “I’m not sitting around in a recliner drinking beer like a lot of older people, I’m mixing it up across the generations.”
In the U.P., ski jumping isn’t just something you watch; it’s something you inherit. From the kids chasing speed to the elders sharing stories in the snow, Pine Mountain continues to be a place where history takes flight.
Callout: Upcoming Continental Cup
Every year, Pine Mountain hosts the FIS Continental Cup, welcoming elite ski jumpers from around the world. With training, multiple competitions and a festival-like atmosphere, it’s one of the Upper Peninsula’s biggest and most unforgettable winter weekends.
Stay
Make a weekend of it. From cozy cabins to comfortable hotels, find the perfect place to stay while you experience Pine Mountain and Iron Mountain’s winter traditions.