Norge Ski Jump Competition Jan. 31, 2010 by Richard Drew

A shot looking down at the crowd of several thousand people at the 105th annual Norge Ski Jump competition in Fox River Grove, Illinois. The jump is part of the official ski jump circuit. This event featured members of the Visa American Women's team, jumpers from Russia, Finland, Poland and more. Some of the Olympic teams sent members here to avoid down time.

Before the event was over, this crowd doubled in size!

The hill features three different jumps – the largest can be seen clearly from high-altitude photos. The Norge program produces some of the best jumpers in the United States, including olympians.

As a side note - the Olympics BANS women from competition in the ski jump event. That's why you won't see any women at the 2010 Olympic Ski Jumping. How antediluvian is that?