BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A 24-year-old Slovenian bested two dozen of the world’s best up-and-coming ski jumpers Saturday on the first day of this weekend’s Harris Hill Ski Jump.
Gasper Bartol won the Pepsi Challenge in front of a crowd of several thousand spectators, with Florian Gugg, 21, of Austria second and David Krapez, 22, of Slovenia third.
The nearly century-old event is featuring athletes from the United States, Austria and Slovenia shooting off New England’s only Olympic-size venue at speeds of 60 mph before soaring more than 300 feet in the air.
One hometown jumper, Brattleboro’s Spencer Knickerbocker, not only is competing but also is helping the snowmaking crew maintain the hill in temperatures as high as 55 degrees.
“I worked on it all week, so I’m telling people it’s good,” the 23-year-old Knickerbocker says of hill conditions. “It’s holding up through the warm weather.”
The event is set to conclude Sunday with the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament. Gates will open at 10 a.m., with trial rounds at 11 a.m., opening ceremonies at noon and competition at 12:45 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger and can be purchased at the gate (cash or local check only) on online at www.brownpapertickets.com.
More information about the Harris Hill Ski Jump, located on Cedar Street in Brattleboro, Vt., can be found at www.harrishillskijump.comor the event’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
