A new twist will highlight the 87th annual Snowflake Ski Jumping Tournament this weekend -- a night jump.

Snowflake Ski and Golf Club officials and booster club members decided to hold a night jump, on Friday, Feb. 5, and a day jump on Saturday, Feb. 6, with no Sunday festivities. Club officials are hoping the change will bring more people out to the event, which typically draws a large crowd on Saturday, but saw dwindling numbers on Sunday.

This year’s “5 Hills Tour” will bring 25-30 national and international athletes to Westby from Russia, Poland, Finland, Norway and the United States to soar off the 106-meter hill for an opportunity to earn up to $5,000. Snowflake is the final stop of the “5 Hills Tour” circuit with jumps already completed at Chicago, Minneapolis, Eau Claire and Ishpeming. Athletes participating in the “5 Hills Tour” do not earn Continental Cup points, but gain practice time before returning to international competition.

Some of the athletes participating at the Westby event may have an opportunity later this month to participate on their nation’s ski jumping team in the Vancouver, Canada, winter Olympic games. Many athletes participating in the Continental Cup tour are also Olympic athletes.

Open training for this year’s event begins on Thursday, Feb. 4, with Media Day and hospitality night from 6-9 p.m. at the Rod and Gun Club in Timber Coulee, where the 2010 Ski Queen Danielle Nelson and attendants Casey Brye and Katelyn Sherpe will welcome skiers and visitors to the area.

On Friday, Feb. 5, open training is scheduled from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and the first-ever night jump kicks off with opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. The hill will be well lit and bonfires will be warming visitors below. Following the jump, a fireworks display will light up the skies in Timber Coulee before spectators are treated to live music, with the band Heavy Water playing in the valley.

On Saturday, Feb. 6, open training is scheduled from 9-11 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies at noon. Competition for the second day of the event kicks off at 12:30 p.m., followed by the ever-popular long-standing jump prior to the award ceremony presentation. Spectators are then invited to attend a second live music event on Saturday with the band Mr. Blink providing the music following the tournament.

Through Thursday, Feb. 4, the 2010 ski button can be purchased in advance at a reduced rate of $15, or for $20 at the gate. The button is good for both days of the tournament and they are available at local businesses, with children under 12 admitted free.

Along with the traditional button, there is a limited edition $50 commemorative button designed as a tribute to lifelong Snowflake booster club member Alden Fremstad, who died on Feb. 23, 2009 at the age of 86. The limited edition gold button can be purchased by contacting the clubhouse at 634-3211, Arne Haugen at 606-4800, or Trish Evenstad at 634-6887.

For the second year in a row Logistics Health Inc. in La Crosse is sponsoring a specially designed button covering the cost of admission for veterans. All current and former military service members and their spouses will be admitted free of charge. For more information about veteran admission to the ski tournament contact Tom Sharratt at 608-634-2118 or go on-line to www.snowflakeskiclub.com

Snowflake President Craig Buros is looking forward to the event.

"This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting tournaments the club has had,” Buros said. “The club is very excited about hosting the Friday night jump, fireworks and live band along with the traditional Saturday tournament. I encourage everyone to show support for this great community event and the volunteers who put in countless hours to keep the ski jumping tradition in Westby alive and well."