Slovenians win both Pine Mountain jumps Saturday

Athletes from Slovenia took the top spot on the podium for both competitions Saturday at the Marshfield Clinic-Dickinson Continental Cup ski jumping tournament on Pine Mountain.

Ziga Jelar won the morning jumps, with Anders Haare of Norway in second, Joacim Oedegaard Bjoereng of Norway third, Sondre Ringen of Norway fourth, Philipp Raimund of Germany fifth and Markus Schiffner of Austria sixth.

Jelar, 24, had never been on Giant Pine Mountain before Friday, when he had the best jump of the training session at 136.5 meters, or 448 feet. He went 410 feet, or 125 meters, on the longest of his two jumps Saturday morning and had the highest combined score at the end of the morning round.

He remarked after the awards ceremony that Slovenian athletes seem to do well in the U.S., noting Luka Doncic’s recent success with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.

“I think we like this country,” he said with a grin.

Jelar gave the renovated Pine Mountain ski jump high marks. “It’s amazing,” he said. “It was worth every penny that they built it with.”

Anze Semenic, also of Slovenia, had the longest jump of the morning at 436 feet, or 133 meters, but later was disqualified when his suit was judged to not fit regulations.

Domen Prevc, 22, was first in the afternoon session, followed by Raimund in second, Jelar in third, Bjoereng in fourth, Michael Hayboeck of Austria in fifth and Schiffner again in sixth.

Raimund, 21, officially had the longest jump for the day in the first afternoon round at 436 feet or 133 meters, thought to be a new hill record, though that is tempered by the fact this is the first competition after the facility’s $3 million renovation.

While he said the former venue “had more character,” Raimund rated the new Pine Mountain jump “smoother.”

“I think the new one suits me better, personally,” Raimund said. He came into the weekend fifth in Continental Cup points.

Despite delays due to swirling winds and afternoon snow, the day concluded by roughly 3 p.m., helped by the morning competition beginning early and no practice jumps in the afternoon.

The Kiwanis Ski Club had predicted a record crowd for the return of the tournament, canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public did not disappoint. No crowd estimate was available, but the parking area on the grounds filled by noon, forcing spectators after that point to use side streets and road shoulders.

For more on the Continental Cup tournament at Pine Mountain this weekend, check The Daily News website at www.ironmountaindailynews.com.