Pine Mountain Ski Jump Elevator

The Pine Mountain Ski Jump in Iron Mountain, Michigan is one of North America’s most iconic winter-sport landmarks – and a stage built for the world. International ski jumping is split into two levels: Continental Cups and the elite World Cups. Without an elevator, Pine Mountain was limited to Continental Cups, narrowing the field to fewer nations and the newer athletes. Add vertical access, and the hill can welcome the sport’s best along with the attention, energy, and international buzz a World Cup brings.

In 2020, the galvanizer and fabricator partnered to hot-dip galvanize more than 400 tons of structural steel for a complete ski jump tower reconstruction – stairs, platforms, and extensive safety rail systems included. That decision laid a corrosion-resistant foundation engineered for one of the Midwest’s harshest climates.

By 2024, the team returned to add what the tower had always needed: a new elevator shaft, built from an additional 120,000 pounds of galvanized steel. After years of Michigan winters, the original galvanized steel still looked new making hot-dip galvanizing the clear, logical match for the addition. More than protection, galvanizing gives projects the freedom to grow and evolve without missing a beat.

The elevator addition includes new tower framing, access platforms, handrails, and stair sections. Every piece was galvanized to ASTM A123 to deliver full corrosion protection and a uniform appearance with the original structure.

Because hot-dip galvanizing reduces routine maintenance, new galvanized steel can be integrated into an existing galvanized structure without creating additional upkeep burden. Years after the original work, the addition blends in seamlessly reinforcing galvanizing’s rare combination of longevity and adaptability.

Today, the Pine Mountain Ski Jump is a showcase of the galvanizer’s promise: consistency, durability, and quality that stands up year after year. Here, that promise stands on one of the tallest ski jumps in the country.