Copper Peak - the world's largest ski flying hill with plastic mattings is being built

Ski flying is the supreme discipline for ski jumpers: incredibly long, incredibly far and incredibly spectacular, the athletes soar through the air in winter on the four ski flying hills in Vikersund (NOR), Planica (SLO), Oberstdorf (GER) and Bad Mitterndorf (AUT).
Until a few years ago, the facilities in Harrachov (CZE) and Ironwood (USA) were also ski flying hills. However, Harrachov and Ironwood are getting on in years and no longer have a valid FIS certificate.
After a long break, Ironwood is now back with the start of construction on a ski flying hill on which athletes can also fly in summer.

The responsible persons in northern Michigan were working hard for the project for many years already in the past, now things are finally getting underway.
At the legendary Copper Peak ski flying hill in northern Michigan, the contracts for the construction and modernization of the Copper Peak ski flying facility were signed last week.
The facility will have a hill size of 180 meters, preparations are now in full swing and construction will begin either in late 2024 or early 2025.

FIS Race Director Sandro Pertile was present on site to witness the signing of the contracts.
Pertile was deeply impressed. "The perseverance and energy with which our friends in Michigan have fought for the project in recent years is outstanding. Over so many years and always full of passion, otherwise this would not have been possible. This is an example to us all of what is possible with passion.
This is a wonderful step for the sport of ski jumping, we have all been dreaming of being able to ski fly in summer for a long time, this is a dream come true, it will be a magnificent facility in the middle of this unique nature" said Pertile.
In the first phase of construction, the entire landing hill and outrun of the facility at Copper Peak will be rebuilt at a cost of around 20 million US dollars. The landing slope is to be covered with plastic matting, making it the largest and so far only ski flying facility in the world that can also be flown on in summer.
The project is being financed by the state of Michigan as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.

In the 2022/2023 season, Lake Placid returned to the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup calendar after a long break as an organizer from North America, and now Ironwood is a second US organizer with excellent chances in the starting blocks.