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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Leading up to the 2010 Island Resort and Casino Pine Mountain Continental Cup, better known as ski jumps, the Kiwanis Ski Club had serious questions if they could even afford to hold the event.

Fast forward to now, and the mood has changed substantially.

"We are in such better condition than we were last year at this time,” said Kiwanis Ski Club member Susie Fox.  “A lot of that is a credit to the way the fans turned out for the event, and Saturday last year was one of the best ski jumping events we've had in 25 years."

While ski jumps continues to be popular among fans, it's also providing a big boost to the local economy.

Many local businesses, like America's Best Inn, have come to rely on ski jumps as one of their biggest weekends of the year.  America's Best Inn General Manager Paul Swanson, will be hosting the jumpers competing in this year's event.  He said all 59 rooms in the hotel are already booked for the weekend.

"The jumpers coming in is incredible for us,” said Swanson.  “It fills us up.  We get the jumpers this year again, and without the jumpers here, we would be hurting this time of the year tremendously."

With ski jumps rebounding financially, Fox expects the yearly tradition to continue.  She said over the years, ski jumps has become about more than just the competitors.

"It's not just a ski tournament.  It's a family reunion, it's a business reunion, and it creates memories for people in so many different ways that we don't even realize,” she said.  “I hope this thing goes on for 100 years past my time."

Ski jumps kicks off at Pine Mountain, February 11.