Three or four times a year I see signs announcing a competition open to the public at the Norge Ski Club. I’ve wanted to go for some time, but I’ve always been busy — until this past June 13th.
In the summer, a carpet of plastic strips (think imitation hula skirt) is laid on the hill and drenched with water. It must work because shortly after I arrived and paid my $5 admission, people started jumping.
This was an unofficial “King of the Hill” competition. There were 13 jumpers, including:
- A 30-year-old guy from Norway who wore a pink suit with a hole in the behind and who wasn’t good enough to make it out of the first round.
- Three girls in their teens.
- A 10-year-old boy who made the final five.
- A 17-year-old guy who is the only ski jumper in the world with a prosthetic leg and who came in third.
There were perhaps 300 people spread around the bottom of the hill, including some celebrities such as Erik the Viking (left) and a former Miss Illinois (right). I know who she was because they introduced her when she sang the National Anthem.
I walked around to the west side to get the sun at my back. That’s where I got this photo.
I’d been hoping for something a little better than that, so I walked around to the other side and took this photo.
From the end of the run, I got this shot.
I still wasn’t satisfied, so I kept searching for a better angle to shoot from.
To be continued …