USA Masters Ski Jumping National Championships

USA Masters Ski Jumping National Championships
January 23, 2011
Blackhawk Ski Club, Madison WI

Old Boys from far away as Wyoming and New York gathered in southern Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 23 for the 2011 Masters Age Group Championships hosted by the Blackhawk Ski Club. It was the 28th time that this Masters event was held, and the third time that Blackhawk hosted the event at their ski area, west of Middleton. Masters competed in rotation with junior jumpers, both boys and girls, first on the 60 meter hill, then on the 30 and 15 meter jumps. Blackhawk Ski Club volunteers prepared three jumping hills with firm snow on the landings and deep, well iced tracks on the inruns. A bright sun helped to warm up the competitors, officials and spectators as temperatures hovered below 15 degrees.

Enthusiastic Blackhawk volunteer CC Schott (Mom of jumpers Nick and Will) arranged a very nice Masters gathering for Saturday evening in the club house behind the big hill tower. A fire crackled in the big black wood stove as the Old Boys engaged in two of their favorite activities: drinking beer and telling lies. After a pleasant meal of lasagna, salad and pie, the Old Boys began drifting away about 8:30, knowing that Sunday would be a big day, but not before they posed for the annual photo in front of the Masters banner.

Standing (L-R): Scott Smith, Tom Ricchio, Tom Moore, Tim Denisson, Don LeVoir;
Seated: Patrick Kruegel, Joe Berens, Don West.

A new face at the gathering was Don LeVoir (above, far right) from Minneapolis who had jumped until the early 1970s, and recently resumed his jumping after an almost 40 year layoff. He joined long-time Master Don West in Masters V Class for skiers aged 70-79. For the first time in several years, there were no nominees to be inducted into the Master Ski Jumpers Hall of Fame.

On Sunday, Tom Moore decided not to jump and Scott Smith (above, left) honored his commitment to coach his junior jumpers who were trying to qualify for the Central Division team traveling to the Junior Olympic competition in February. Sadly this left only six Masters Competitors to vie for the age group medals. Here are the results of the 2011 Championships.

60 Meter Event

Master-IV (ages 60-69)

Athlete Name Bib Club/Town Dist. Dist ....Judges Points..... Jump Final (M.) Points J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 Total Total ------------------------------------------------------ 1. Tim Denisson 3 St Paul 40.5 8.2 12.5 14.0 14.5 13.5 14.0 49.7 41.0 9.6 14.0 13.5 14.5 13.5 14.0 51.1 100.8 Master-II (ages 40-49) 1. Patrick Kruegel 1 Minneapolis 47.0 26.4 13.5 13.5 13.5 14.0 12.5 66.9 47.0 26.4 14.0 14.0 13.5 13.0 14.5 67.9 134.8 2. Joe Berens 2 Minneapolis 39.0 4.0 13.0 14.0 13.5 13.5 12.0 44.0 45.5 22.2 13.5 13.0 13.0 12.5 13.0 61.2 105.2

USA Masters Ski Jumping National Championships
30 Meter Event

Master-V (ages 70-79)
Athlete Name Bib Club/Town Dist. Dist Judges Points Jump Final (M.) Points J1 J2 J3 Total Total ------------------------------------------------ 1. Don West 93 Lake Placid 20.5 22.6 14.0 15.0 14.0 65.6 22.5 31.4 14.5 15.0 14.0 74.9 140.5 2. Don LeVoir 91 Minneapolis 21.5 27.0 12.0 14.0 12.0 65.0 20.5 22.6 13.5 13.0 12.5 61.6 126.6 Master-IV (ages 60-69) 1. Tom Ricchio 90 Iola 28.0 55.6 10.0 14.0 12.5 92.1 27.0 51.2 12.5 12.5 13.0 89.2 181.3 Master-II (ages 40-49) 1. Joe Berens 92 Minneapolis 26.5 49.0 11.5 11.5 11.0 83.0 22.0 29.2 13.5 14.5 12.5 69.7 152.7
15 Meter Event

Master-V (ages 70-79)

1. Don West 25 Lake Placid 12.5 51.6 14.0 12.5 10.0 88.1 11.0 43.2 12.5 13.5 12.0 81.2 169.3 2. Don LeVoir 24 Minneapolis 12.0 48.8 7.0 10.5 10.0 76.3 12.5 51.6 13.0 13.0 12.0 89.6 165.9