Jumps, thrills, at Harris Hill this past weekend
It was a strong opening day at the 104th Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition, delivering exciting jumps, enthusiastic crowds, and one of the largest competitive fields seen in decades. Harris Hill Ski Jump is the only 90-meter, Olympic-sized jump in New England. Approximately 3,000 spectators braved Saturday’s shifting weather conditions.
Saturday featured the Pepsi Challenge alongside junior world championship qualifiers for both Nordic combined and ski jumping, marking the first time Harris Hill Ski Jump has hosted a qualifying event for the junior world championships, which is set to take place in Lillehammer, Norway in March.
Saturday saw 55 competitors on the hill, the largest field since 1992. The biggest jump of the day was 99 meters by four jumpers in three different classes: Henry Loher (USA) in the Men’s U20 K88 US Cup; Urh Rosar (SLO) in the Men’s Open Class; and Ronny Andreassen (NOR) and David Bieniek (NOR) in the Masters K88. The top women’s jump came from Lara Logar (SLO), who jumped 93 meters.
Sunday provided bluebird skies and favorable conditions, with temperatures in the 30s and light winds that decreased over the course of the day, with another 3,000 spectators attending one of Vermont’s favorite winter sporting events. Competitions were sanctioned by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).
Sunday’s marquee moment came during the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament. Loher elected to compete in the open class for the prestigious Winged Trophy Cup, narrowly edging Slovenia’s Rosar, 252.5 to 250. Rosar is a two-time open class champion and was seeking a third consecutive win to permanently retire the trophy. With the retirement rule set to change after 2026, this weekend represented the final opportunity for the trophy to be permanently retired. Harris Hill will now retain the trophy onsite, engraving future winners’ names on it rather than retiring it.
Adding to the tournament’s historic evolution, 2026 also marks the debut of the Women’s Fred Harris Memorial Trophy, a significant expansion that further elevates women’s ski jumping at Harris Hill. Both Fred Harris Memorial Tournament champions are crowned from the Men’s and Women’s Open Class divisions. The first-ever women’s open class trophy was awarded to Slovenia’s Nejka Repinc. Repinc secured the win with a standout 91.5-meter jump, finishing six points ahead of teammate Lara Logar.
Sunday’s results included:
Men’s U16, Liam Demong (Park City Nordic Ski Club), 97 meters on his second jump; women’s U20, McKenzie Maines (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club), 93.5 meters; men’s U20, Mitchell Penning (NY Ski Educational Foundation Club), 97.5-meter jump; and in the masters division, Norway’s David Bieniek and Ole Holt each jumped 95 meters.
Sunday’s competition, both ski jumping and the Nordic combined, served as the final North American qualifying event for the junior world championships. While this marked the last opportunity on the continent for athletes to qualify, official announcements regarding qualifying athletes will be made following the Olympics, as international competitors remain in contention.
Harris Hill Ski Jump is a nonprofit organization and run entirely by a community of dedicated volunteers. Stay connected on socials @ harrishillskijump on Facebook and Instagram and online at HarrisHillSkiJump.com.
