Outdoor notes

HISTORIC SKI JUMPING

PARK CITY — The Utah Olympic Park will be a hub for competitive international ski jumping this weekend when it hosts FIS Continental Cup competitions in both women's ski jumping and men's Nordic combined.

Come face to face with history and meet the pioneering women who will compete at the FIS Nordic World Championships in February 2009 at the FIS Continental Cup on Friday and Saturday, at 5:30 p.m. each day. The international competition will welcome the best women ski jumpers from around the world and will be a preview to what the world will see Feb. 20 at the FIS Nordic World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, where women's ski jumping will make its world debut. This is the biggest competition for women's ski jumping in North America.

The U.S. Women's Ski Jumping team is comprised of all Utah athletes, with many of them currently ranked in the top 15 in the world, including Alissa Johnson (ranked sixth in the world), Lindsey Van (ranked 10th) and Jessica Jerome (13th).

The FIS Men's Nordic Combined Continental Cup, which mixes ski jumping with cross country skiing, will be staged Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. each day. It will include an international field as well as American standouts Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), a four-time Olympian who recently unretired to work towards a fifth Olympics, Brett Camerota (Park City) and Wiley Graves (Putney, Vt.).

Admission is free for all events and there will also be free hot chocolate for all spectators. For information, call 435-658-4200 or visit www.olyparks.com.

ICE FISHING EVENT

SCOFIELD — Scofield State Park will host its third annual Ice Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Registration is limited and required by calling 435-687-2491. The cost is $13 per entrant. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m. with the tournament beginning at 7 a.m.

A prize will be awarded for the biggest fish, along with drawings for door prizes. There will be free hot chocolate and hot dogs for everyone who participates.

Scofield is one of the top three fisheries in the state, with excellent rainbow and cutthroat trout populations. The park offers two campgrounds, a lakeside picnic area, boat ramps and courtesy docks.

ANTELOPE ISLAND HIKE

Antelope Island State Park will offer a 4-mile hike with the park naturalist on Saturday, when participants can learn more about the brine shrimp industry on Great Salt Lake. This is an easy hike along Lakeside Trail.

Participants should meet at the Lakeside Trailhead in White Rock Bay at 11 a.m. For information, call 801-721-9569.

WHO'S THAT BIRD?

MIDWAY — On Saturday, Dec. 20, at Wasatch Mountain State Park, a class on basic bird identification will be conducted. Join the park naturalist from 9 a.m. to noon that day at the visitors center to learn bird identification.

If you enjoy birds but have never tried to identify them in the field or simply need a refresher course, this class is for you. No birding experience is necessary. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them, and dress to be outside for part of the time.

For information, call 435-654-1791.