CP Webhost, Author at Copper Peak - Ski jump in Ironwood, Michigan, USA

Posted on May 16, 2019 by CP Webhost

Ride along with skydive over Michigan’s Copper Peak ski jump

Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool

Miles Daisher and Andy Farrington kiting off Copper Peak in Ironwood on 11 May, 2019

IRONWOOD, MI – The view from atop Michigan’s Copper Peak ski jump is one of the best in the Midwest.

The view looking down on it may be even better.

Fortunately, thanks to video provided by the Red Bull Air Force, you can be the judge. The point-of-view footage was recorded on May 11 prior to the Red Bull 400 race up the ski jump in Ironwood.

Racers double for second year of Red Bull 400 race up Michigan’s Copper Peak ski-jump

The video, which follows skydivers Andy Farrington and Miles Daisher, provides a unique look at Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Copper Country, including blue skies, towering pines, rolling hills and Lake Superior in the distance.

Eventually, the ski jump comes into view and the pair swoop down the jump and hill and land near the race’s starting line.

The Red Bull 400 featured more than 1,000 athletes from across the globe racing 40 stories uphill to the top of the ski jumping tower.

Miles Fink-Debray (4:38.0) of Ketchum, Idaho took first in the final heat of the men’s race.

Ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson, a 24-year-old, two-time Olympian proved that she is just as equipped to travel up ski jumps as she is to fly down them. She won the women’s race with a time of 6:13.4.

More photos of the event can be seen here.

Posted on May 14, 2019May 16, 2019 by CP Webhost

Racers double for second year of Red Bull 400 race up Michigan’s Copper Peak ski-jump

IRONWOOD, MI – Double the competitors and two new course records.

That was the story of the day at the Red Bull 400 in Ironwood, where 1,000 athletes from across the globe raced 40 stories uphill to the top of Copper Peak’s ski jumping tower on May 11.

Competitors traveled from as far away Malaysia and Australia to participate in the second year of the unique challenge, which took place under picture-perfect skies in the heart of the Upper Peninsula’s Copper Country.

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The day included entertainment from local vendors and a skydive that swooped down the ski jump and landed at the starting line.

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The men’s final heat at the venue of the Red bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood on May 11. Twenty heats were held throughout the day with the top 40 men and top 40 women moving on to the championship round.

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Runners compete at Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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Runners compete at Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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Miles Daisher competes at Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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A runner competes Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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Runners compete at the Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on 11 May, 2019.

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Miles Fink-Debray (4:38.0) of Ketchum, Idaho took first in the final heat of the men’s race, sending the 23-year-old on to race for the title at Red Bull 400 Park City for the second year in a row.

He will then head to the Red Bull 400 World Championships in Whistler later this summer.

“This is the coolest race; it’s been fun to have this as my focus right now and to come here and win is the best feeling in the world,” Fink-Debray said.

“I drew a lot of my experience from last year’s race in Park City and I tried to conserve my energy and save everything for the finals. I just put my head down and never looked back.”

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Second place winner, Matt Novakovich, competes at the Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on 11 May, 2019.

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Ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson, a 24-year-old, two-time Olympian proved that she is just as equipped to travel up ski jumps as she is to fly down them. She won the women’s race with a time of 6:13.4.

“I’m stoked to win, and to see the amazing community and atmosphere around a ski jump warms my heart,” Hendrickson said.

“A lot of people in the states don’t know what ski jumping is and I am so excited that Red Bull puts on these events to bring awareness to my sport, and it makes it even more exciting to win!”

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A runner competes Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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A runner competes Red Bull 400 at Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI, USA on May 11, 2019.

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Red Bull 400 race are set to take place at ski jumps across Europe, Asia, and North America this season. The Red Bull 400 Copper Peak is supported by Moosejaw and Northern Michigan University.

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Here is a closer look at the top three finishers on each side.

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MEN’S

1st – Miles Fink-Debray, 31 (4:38.0) – Ketchum, ID

2nd – Matt Novakovich, 45 (4:51.9) – Anchorage, AK

3rd – Ian Torchia, 23 (5:04.6) – Marquette, MI

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WOMEN’S

1st – Sarah Hendrickson, 24 (6:13.4) – Park City, UT

2nd – Kristen Monahan, 31 (6:15.1) – Houghton, MI

3rd – Kameron Burmeister, 23 (6:37.1) – Marquette, MI

Read the full article here.

Posted on May 13, 2019May 16, 2019 by CP Webhost

Pro Sports Extra: Watch: Red Bull 400, 2019 Copper Peak | Laugh as I attempt to run it

Via Pro Sports Extra

Watch: Red Bull 400, 2019 Copper Peak | Laugh as I attempt to run it

By: TrevStone

Posted on May 13, 2019

I wasn’t going to say no, but on the other side of it… I haven’t trained and haven’t done anything athletic for the past three years and this is the world’s steepest vertical incline challenge…. I didn’t expect to finish…. So when I didn’t I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t expect much. But no matter what I was going to give it an attempt…

The night before though??

I couldn’t sleep. I had to wake up at seven in the morning and drive to Ironwood which is a two hour drive….. On top of it I didn’t fall asleep till nearly six in the morning….

So the morning of the event I was deciding mentally if I was going to attempt to run or just interview people and well… I probably shouldn’t have picked to run because I made it quarter of the way up the hill and couldn’t go any longer. I give everyone who attempted this kudos – and if you finished… more power to you. I’ll stick to blogging.

You can see in the video (above) that after I fall down I still get up and keep trying to go… But I just couldn’t go any longer…. Sometimes that’s how it goes.

If anyone has any better footage of the 2PM (Media) heat… Please send it my way. I’d love to see me trying to make my way down the hill after making it partway up and dry heaving and trying to roll down the hill…

I was so light headed – I honestly don’t think I could have finished this race if I was in the best shape I’ve been in, in my entire life. I challenge YOU to attend next year.

Will I train for next year? We will see.

Who won?

Want to watch the full event:

Watch Red Bull 400 Copper Peak 2019 from Copper_Peak on www.twitch.tv

Posted on May 11, 2019May 16, 2019 by CP Webhost

World’s steepest 400-meter race hits Ironwood Saturday

via NewsWatch 12

Check out the video of Ben Semenek here.

IRONWOOD, MI – Ben Semenek looked up from the start of the Red Bull 400 in Ironwood and saw the finish line that eluded him last year.

“It’s the hardest 400-meter race in the world,” said Semenek. “It’s as difficult as advertised.”

For him, finishing the race at the historic Copper Peak would be the peak of his fitness journey. Years ago, Semenek weighed over 250 pounds. “I’m not going to lie and say it’s a fun experience to go through a big weight loss, but anyone can do it if you actually care enough about yourself to do it,” said Semenek.

Terry Butler has battled his own weight issues but was among hundreds who beat the world’s steepest race.

“I got to 300 meters and I felt my chest was going to blow out,” said Butler. “I have friends that aren’t able to do this – I’m kind of doing it for them and for my kids.” He said if he can do it, anyone can.

“Don’t ever doubt yourself, you don’t know what you can do until you do it,” said Butler.

Some doubt crept into Semenek when 250 meters in after he had finished the steep landing area, he looked up Copper Peak’s ski jump. But, he made it. “Dead last is still better than DNF, did not finish,” said Semenek.

He hopes to be faster next year, and said a difficult journey, whether a couple hundred meters or pounds, is worth it.

“That reward is something that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Just a stupid grin on my face, grabbing a water in the stairwell of Copper Peak, knowing that I did finish, knowing that I did my best, and knowing that I got it done.”

The race is the steepest 400-meter race in the world. It is about the same as running up 40 stories. This year’s event was the second of its kind at the historic jump.

Posted on May 3, 2019May 16, 2019 by CP Webhost

Red Bull 400 registration at Copper Peak nearly sold out

via TV6

By Sarah Blakely |

Posted: Fri 9:17 AM, May 03, 2019 |

Updated: Fri 3:54 PM, May 03, 2019

WAKEFIELD, Mich. (WLUC) – The Red Bull 400 is coming back to Copper Peak on Saturday, May 11, and registration is nearly sold out.

Last year’s inaugural event was Copper Peak’s first major event since 1994. It saw about 470 participants and nearly 4,000 spectators. It’s the steepest run in the worldwide Red Bull 400 series at an angle of about 39 degrees. Participants climb the grass hill, then take a ramp up the ski jump to climb 40 stories up to the top of the hill.

Although it’s only 400 meters, it’s no walk in the park. Some participants don’t even finish.

There are five heat events of the day. Men’s, women’s, coed solo races, as well as an afternoon coed heat and a “choose your heat” event. The afternoon coed heat is the only one still available for registration.

The Red Bull 400 takes over Copper Peak on Saturday, May 11. The afternoon coed heat costs $60 to register. You can register online here.

Copper Peak is also encouraging racers to use custom Red Bull 400 Copper Peak Giphy stickers on social media posts. Check out more on that in the embedded Facebook post below.

Check out the full article here.

Posted on January 3, 2019 by CP Webhost

$10 million grant presents a ‘powerful opportunity’ for U.P. ski jumps

By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com

IRONWOOD, MICH. — One of the planet’s historically superlative ski jump spots is on the precipice of making Michigan a world-class destination for the sport.

Copper Peak and Pine Mountain, a pair of ski jumps located in the western Upper Peninsula, were jointly awarded a $10 million grant from the Michigan Legislature in the state budget bill that passed shortly before the end of the year. That money has been earmarked for renovations that will ultimately allow the region to host the highest-caliber international ski jumping competitions.

The funding will be doled out proportionately to the two facilities for their respective renovation projects. Pine Mountain’s improvements are projected to cost $2 million; Copper Peak has plans drawn up that are estimated to run $15 million to $18 million — some of which will be covered by fundraising from sponsors, private donors and additional grants.

Bob Jacquart, fundraising co-chair for Copper Peak, said that the renovations will be a game-changer — for the sport, for the region, and for Michigan as a whole — especially considering ski jumping’s massive following in Europe.

“It’s such a huge deal over there,” he said. “That’s the part that gets me excited: Thinking about how Ironwood and Copper Peak can do something good for this state. It’s a powerful opportunity.”

The town of Iron Mountain, where the Pine Mountain ski jump is located, already draws competitors, fans and tourists from around the world each year for an International Ski Federation Continental Cup. Pine Mountain’s ski jumping history dates back to 1939, and it is the only ski jump venue in the United States to host an International Ski Federation competition every year.

Meanwhile Ironwood’s Copper Peak, which is the world’s largest artificial-surface ski jump, hasn’t hosted ski jumping for nearly 25 years — though from 1970 until the mid 1990’s, it was a renowned destination for not only ski jumping but ski flying, a sport like ski jumping but at greater distances. After Copper Peak’s competition days went on hiatus in 1994, the hill made a name for itself as a tourist destination (thousands of visitors come each year to take in the 26-story view at the top of the jump’s tower) and, more recently, for hosting the Red Bull 400, the world’s steepest 400-meter race.

Jacquart said the renovations will once again bring ski jumping to Copper Peak and allow competitors to jump in warmer months, when conditions are safer and events are less prone to weather-induced cancellations.

Copper Peak’s renovations are anticipated to be completed by September 2020.

Image courtesy Copper Peak

Another rendering of Copper Peak after renovations are completed in 2020. Already known for being a fall-color destination thanks to its sweeping views, Copper Peak aims to host annual ski jumping competitions in September.

Check out full article here.

Posted on January 2, 2019 by CP Webhost

City commissioners pleased with late-year economic news

By RALPH ANSAMI (ransami@yourdailyglobe.com)

Ironwood — There were smiling faces on Ironwood City Commissioners Wednesday as they discussed economic developments in the late year that will benefit the area.

“A number of things came our way,” city manager Scott Erickson said as he began listing some of the recent accomplishments, including $10 million for Copper Peak, $1.5 million from the state to assist Waupaca Foundry, Inc., in locating in city’s industrial park, $280,000 for the Miners Memorial Heritage Park mountain bike trail, $2 million for Gogebic Community College and funding for the third phase of the Iron Belle non-motorized trail, from Bessemer to Ramsay.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation said last week the Waupaca Foundry project is expected to generate total private investment of $4.3 million and create 61 jobs. Ironwood was chosen over competing sites in Arkansas and Wisconsin, MEDC said.

The company will locate in the former speculation building on Liberty Street. The building had most recently been used by Scandinavian Log Homes.

The city is offering a 12-year property tax abatement valued at $375,000 in support of the project.

Erickson said Wednesday he and Community Development Director Tom Bergman will continue to work with MEDC on developing and carrying out a strategic economic plan for the western Upper Peninsula.

Erickson said there has been a great deal of work going on behind the scenes to yield the late 2018 results.

Bergman previously said discussions between Waupaca Foundry and the city had been going on for the past four months, as the company conducted job fairs in Ironwood and Marenisco.

All the good news has come after the devastating announcement that the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco would close in early December, which resulted in a loss of around 200 high-paying jobs.

One of those Ojibway employees was city commissioner Joe Cayer Jr., who was fortunate to stay in the area when he accepted employment at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital.

Mayor Annette Burchell and commissioners thanked Erickson and the city staff for helping make the year end on such a solid note.

Check out the full article here.

Posted on January 2, 2019 by CP Webhost

Copper Peak receives 10 million dollars for remodeling project

IRONWOOD, Mich. (WLUC) – Copper Peak will receive a 10 million dollar grant to help with their remodeling project. This project has been a work in progress for almost five years.

They plan to share some of the money with the Pine Mountain Facility to work on building their ski jumps back up into world competition.

They also want to create artificial surface at Copper Peak to allow people to jump in the summer without snow.

Copper Peak is excited to have this money coming in, and says the community helped them receive it.

“For the community, it’s fabulous,” said Organizing Committee Chair, Bob Jacquart.

“I want to thank the community, in fact this Western end of the U.P. has been hit hard a little bit with the prison closing and everything like that and our community really banded together, and I’m very proud the fact that this town and area is energized, and I think that’s part of the reason why we got the money so I’d really like to thank the community for being behind us and in this as well.”

They still have to raise an additional five to six million dollars on top of the 10 million dollar investment. They currently are working to gain those funds.

Check out TV6’s website here.

Posted on December 24, 2018 by CP Webhost

More than $119 million earmarked for the U.P.

INFORMATION BELOW COURTESY KARYN OLSSON, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT INVEST U.P.

HOUGHTON, Michigan (December 21, 2018) – Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is celebrating the recent appropriation of $119.3 million and the creation of numerous new jobs by the outgoing Michigan State Legislature. The approved funds will leverage an additional $37 million of additional public and private investments, for a total of more than $156 million expected to flow into the region. The recently passed budget bill is one of the most economically impactful pieces of legislation for the U.P. in decades. Recipients range from a local foundry to institutions of higher learning and famed international attractions.

The appropriations will create 71 new direct jobs in Gogebic County, approximately one-third of the number lost with the recent closing of the Ojibwa Correctional Facility. In addition to these direct jobs, the region can anticipate many indirect jobs in areas such as construction, transportation, painting, and finishing resulting from funded improvements. Recipients of the appropriations include:

Waupaca Foundry: The foundry will receive $1.5 million to open a new production facility in Ironwood. The project is expected to generate total public-private investment of $4.5 million and create 61 new direct jobs.

Department of Natural Resources: The DNR will receive funding to support 10 new full-time state jobs in the Ironwood area.

Soo Locks: The state allocated $52 million for the US Army Corps of Engineers to design and start initial construction on a new lock that will allow large lake freighters to traverse between Lakes Superior and Huron. This is part of a $922 million federally approved project that could bring over one thousand jobs to the region over the next eight years.

Michigan Technological University: Michigan Tech received construction authorization of $44.7 million toward a new H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex to support educational programs that apply engineering and science to health and other problems related to the human condition. The state will invest $29.7 million into this public-private partnership.

Northern Michigan University: NMU received construction authorization of $28.6 million to rebuild its Jacobetti Center, which features more than 40 specialized laboratories and classrooms for education in skilled trades. The state will invest $20.1 million into this public-private partnership.

Copper Peak & Pine Mountain: The famed ski jumps in Ironwood and Iron Mountain will invest $20 million to prepare the jumps for international competitions. The renovations of these facilities will create a synergy for competitions and provide for a year round, world class training facility at Copper Peak. The state will invest $10 million into this public-private partnership.

Gogebic Community College: An allocation of $2 million will result in a $2.5 million build on the campus for a certificated skilled trades program, including welding, that will provide a talent pipeline to area businesses.

Buffalo Reef: The state appropriated $3 million for the cleanup and removal of waste product that threatens lake trout and whitefish spawning off the coat of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior.

Delta County Conservation District: An outlay of $1 million will support ongoing efforts to complete removal of the Escanaba River Bridge and clean up resulting debris and contamination, paving the way for new development by the township.

Marty Fittante, State Senator Tom Casperson’s chief of staff, worked closely with a number of local leaders, legislative partners, Governor Rick Snyder’s team, and institutional stakeholders on behalf of Senator Casperson to ensure these significant projects were included in this bill. Starting in January, he will take the reins as CEO of InvestUP, where he will continue to advocate for the region as he has in Lansing. Fittante is thrilled with the appropriations. He says, “I applaud these individuals and interests, especially Senator Casperson, for their tireless work and foresight in passing this critical legislation before the end of the year. These very different projects will have an enormous impact on the region and its people.”

Read the full article on here.