The spectacular sport of ski jumping came to the USA in the late 1800s when Norwegian immigrants brought the sport with them from its birthplace in Norway. It first caught on in numerous communities in the midwest. The first recorded North American distance record was set at a tournament in Red Wing, Minnesota in 1887, when Mikkel Hemmestvedt flew 37 feet! Photos in the slide show below are random glimpses into the wonderful sport of ski jumping over the years. The sport thrived, with clubs being formed in many towns across the region, and these clubs build jumping hills and began hosting tournaments. Jumpers traveled among these venues, and it quickly became a popular spectator sport. The advancement of the sport led to ever greater flight distances. By 1903, when the Wright Brothers made their first manned aircraft flight of 120 feet, the world distance record in ski jumping was 134 feet! Over the years, ski jumping technique and equipment have evolved, and flight distances have increased. The current US record is 144 meters (472 feet), set at Iron Mountain MI in 2020. The world record world is 253.5 meters (832 feet), set in Vikersund NOR in 2017. Today, the key to the sport is aerodynamics, just as it is with aircraft. Our mission is to provide a look at the history of the sport in the USA, spanning 130+ years since that first tournament in Red Wing back in the late 19th century.