After a year lost to COVID-19 restrictions, the FIS Continental Cup is poised to make its hopefully triumphant return this weekend on an upgraded ski jump at Giant Pine Mountain.

Given the disruption the coronavirus pandemic has caused, it’s not just an event this year but another touch of normalcy being restored to the region.

Last season’s competition was called off roughly a month before it was to take place Feb. 12-14, 2021, when organizers decided the Kiwanis Ski Club would take too big a financial hit if fans could not be present to cheer on the jumpers.

So this year’s Marshfield Clinic-Dickinson Continental Cup also will debut the club’s $3 million renovation to raise the ski hill to current International Ski Federation, or FIS, standards.

The money helped convert the ski jump track, formerly formed with iced snow, to ceramic to make a more consistent surface; build a new staircase just for skiers to reach the top; add a warming shelter near the start area; and replace existing wood on the 176 feet high and 384 feet long scaffold with galvanized steel.

The $3 million in funding for the renovation was provided by the Great Lakes Sports Commission, in agreement with the First National Bank & Trust of Iron Mountain along with other banking partners Northern Interstate Bank, First National Bank of St. Ignace, Range Bank and State Savings Bank.

An extra bonus was Gundlach Champion of Iron Mountain being general contractor for the renovation. Other integral services were provided by Bacco Construction, IDI Architecture-Engineering-Consulting of Marquette, Coleman Engineering, Top Speed Technology, MJ Electric, Beaulier Buildings, Northern Landscape and UP Fabrication.

It’s given the ski club an impressive venue for hosting not just this Continental Cup event but perhaps World Cup-level competitions as it had done in the past.

While the ski jumps are resuming, some aspects of the pandemic will continue to have an effect on this year’s event. The tradition of the athletes bunking at local homes will not be possible. The meet-and-greet with the jumpers has been canceled. And no one from the public will have access to those participating in the competition.

The club is anticipating a record crowd. With the omicron variant surging in the region, that might not be the best idea. Yet it’s difficult to discourage turning out for the event’s return, given its long tradition and significance in the Iron Mountain area — and the ski club’s need to have the public’s financial support.

The tournament begins with official training at 1 p.m. Friday. Competitions are set for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, preceded both days by training rounds. Jumpers from the United States, Canada, Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway, Poland and Slovenia are expected to take part.

Let’s hope the weather cooperates to provide a weekend of quality jumping on Giant Pine Mountain that helps make up for the lost year in 2021.