IRON MOUNTAIN -- "We put a lot of time and effort into this every year, and we have a good time with it."

The actual competition doesn't start until Saturday, but fans already have begun piling into Pine Mountain for ski jumps.

Barbara Lefebvre is one of those fans that came to watch practice runs Friday.  She has been coming for more than 50 years and said it keeps getting better and better.

"They're jumping farther and farther every year, and that's more exciting, I think,” said Lefebvre.  “I can remember when they hardly went 300 feet."

The record is more than 470 feet.

But other reasons bring fans out to jumps as well.

"It's great to get all the family and friends together and have a good time--cookout, watch the jumps, and go back later and party back at home," said 42-year ski jumps veteran, Bob Binder.

Many people spend the days leading up to ski jumps, setting up their shacks and getting ready for the weekend which has become as much about family reunions as it has about the jumpers themselves.

Jason Romaker grew up in Dickinson County and brings his family from Madison to ski jumps every year including his five-year-old son who is experiencing this for the first time.

"The fact that he can come and enjoy this time with his grandpa and his grandma, it means the world to us that we're able to go out and do this,” said Romaker.  “It's a lot of fun, and we look forward to this event all year long."

Ski jumps officials are expecting perfect conditions for the weekend.

Competition on Saturday and Sunday kicks off at 1 p.m.