Facility Repairs Capital Fund Fundraiser

Since 1887, the Ishpeming Ski Club (ISC) has promoted ski jumping and cross country skiing in Marquette County. Our annual Ski Jumping Tournament is one of the longest consecutively running yearly sports tournaments in the US. Since 1924, 12 ISC ski jumpers have been named to the US Olympic Team.

Our mission as a 501(c)3 nonprofit is to provide the facilities and expertise to train the next generation of these athletes. In our past season, our Nordic programs trained a total of 78 athletes, 5-18yrs old. Our skiers competed across the Midwest and our top ski jumper flew in the Junior World Finals in Lillehammer, Norway. Funding for the ISC youth and junior ski programs comes from Sponsors (both Tournament and Club Sponsors), Tournament proceeds, and club membership dues.

This spring, extreme snow caused our equipment building to collapse—severely damaging our WinchCat, the machine used to groom Suicide Hill. Without it, we cannot safely maintain our ski jumps and host our annual tournament.

Spring runoff caused by the heavy snow load also washed out the ground beneath our K40 ski jump, which is used by our youth jumpers, and must be refilled with material to be safe for year-round training.

The ISC has located a replacement, low-hour BR-350 WinchCat for sale, that will permit the ISC to continue providing outstanding grooming for our ski jump landing hills. We’ve received a quote from local contractors for a replacement pole barn that will keep equipment out of the weather and extend its working life, and material and preparation costs to fix the damaged K40 landing hill. The cost to conduct all of these repairs is $195,000.