Michigan Ski Jump Undergoing Renovations for International Competition

It’s the dawn of a new era at the Copper Peak ski jump in Ironwood, Michigan. 

Since 1994, thousands of visitors have used the Copper Peak ski jump in Ironwood, Michigan, to get a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful fall colors surrounding the area. The tower, which sits 469 feet above the ground, lets visitors see over 2,500 square miles of the changing leaves across three states. But now, Copper Peak is undergoing massive renovations to be returned as a ski jump, set to host international competitions once renovations are complete.

Renovations include significantly reshaping the landing hill to accommodate the speed and distance of modern athletes, meeting International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) standards. So far, crews with Minnesota-based Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc., have spent months moving earth to change the slope angle by two degrees.

“The required angle of the landing has changed by two degrees since 1994 when Copper Peak jumped last,” Copper Peak President Bob Jacquart said in a Rural Innovations Exchange article. “That two degrees means dropping the top of the landing 18 inches and lifting the bottom 18 feet.”

After the slope is reshaped, crews will pour 2.1 acres of concrete five inches thick and anchor it to the slope. The concrete slab will serve as the jump’s permanent foundation. On top of the concrete will sit the heavy-duty roped net to grip snow in place and keep it from sliding down the concrete. For use in the spring and summer, the concrete will be topped with over 50,000 synthetic plastic landing mats that layer together like shingles. The mats simulate snow, allowing athletes to land safely for summer training. The renovations also include an advanced irrigation system to keep the mats lubricated, alongside a brand-new judges’ tower elevated 70 feet above the ground. The project is expected to be completed in 2028.

So far, Jacquart has been impressed with the progress. “What they’re doing is unheard of,” he told local radio station WXPR Ironwood. “We’ve got construction schools, schools with construction classes or engineering schools, UMD’s been here, Michigan Tech’s been over here because, to an engineer, this is not an office building or a road, the typical flat road or the square office building. This is something really unique, so it’s pretty cool,” said Jacquart.

• Related: USA Ski Jumping Brings in New Development Director to Help Produce Top Talent

Copper Peak first opened in 1969 and still stands as America’s largest artificial ski jump. It hosted ski jumping competitions for 25 years before closing due to financial debt, erosion issues, and outdated ski jumping measurements that did not meet modern FIS certification.

The return of ski jumping at Copper Peak comes thanks to a $20 million grant given to Copper Peak by the state of Michigan as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Copper Peak is still seeking donations to help cover the costs of the synthetic snow mats. To incentivize donations, Copper Peak is putting names on the landing area tiles.

“Donations are rolling in,” Jacquart told WFWJ Newswatch 12. “If someone’s got a little more money than that, a thousand dollars will get you four tiles, and then you will get a cool certificate that looks like a diploma, with Copper Peak’s logo and a gold seal. That will come to you, and you can hang it on the wall. It’s almost like owning a share of the Packers stadium.”

• Related: Burning Man’s Dry Ski Slope Organizers Launch Urgent $25,000 Fundraiser to Return in 2026

Jacquart hopes a rejuvenated ski jump could make Ironwood an international hub for the sport, drawing in both fans and athletes to benefit the local economy. Competitions could see tourists visiting nearby towns like Ashland, Mercer, Hayward, and others, spending multiple weekends in the area each winter. Jacquart estimates the project could generate a $190 million economic impact within five years of reopening, according to UP Travel.

“People travel the world to see big ski jumps; and when Copper Peak is up and beautiful, that will happen here too,” he said in the Rural Innovations Exchange article. 

Jacquart also believes the ski jump’s impact will extend beyond the local economy. It could serve as Team USA’s training hub, helping bring more ski jumping success on the Olympic stage. Team USA has won only one ski jumping Olympic medal in history, and the program is eager to find more success. USA Ski Jumping recently announced the addition of a new development director to identify top talent, and Jacquart believes that the top talent can use Copper Peak.

According to WXPR Ironwood, one of Jacquart’s motivations is to make the United States a top-five ski jumping country. 

While there is currently no timetable for Copper Peak’s return to FIS competition, Jacquart’s hopes for the renovation are high. There are still many details to hammer out, including finding donations for summer training mats, but with 2028 over a year away, Copper Peak has time before ski jumping athletes take to Ironwood for competition.