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Ski Jumping Extravaganza’s exciting finish pits one Arthur against another

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Steamboat’s McKenzie Maines, 14, flies off the HS75 ski jump at Howelsen Hill during the 20th annual Jumpin' and Jammin' Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday, July 4, 2025. Maines was the female champion of the competition, flying as far as 71.5 meters in the competition.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Arthur Tirone sat in shock at the top of the HS75 ski jump at Howelsen Hill on Friday when it was announced Arthur Keller soared 75.5 meters in the championship round of the 20th annual Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza. 

It was a battle of the Arthurs. 

“The crowd went wild,” Tirone said of Keller’s jump. “You can get to know the distance pretty well from how loud the crowd yells.” 



Keller, a 13 year old Nordic skier with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, had just flown the furthest distance of the day, but now it was Tirone’s turn in the elimination jump competition. 

What started as a field of 56 jumpers slowly whittled its way down to the top-four across five rounds of jumps.



Tirone, 17, had the very last jump of the day and knew his target distance. He said his jump came down to how well he could keep his speed shooting out of the inrun.

Laying flat horizontally over his skis in the air, Tirone eliminates horizontal drag while offering as much surface area as possible to increase vertical drag, keeping him up in the air as long as possible. 

Steamboat’s Arthur Tirone, 17, gets as flat as possible as he soars through the sky off the HS75 ski jump, part of the Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday. Tirone’s 76.5 meter flight in the final round won him the event.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Tirone landed 76.5 meters down the ski jump, taking the crown in the Arthur clash. 

“This is one of the events I’ve always wanted to win,” Tirone said. “I’ve watched so many of my friends and teammates win it. This is the biggest crowd we get all year and having all these people come watch us throw down, winning that is amazing. It all came together today.”

Hosted by SSWSC, the event offered a prize purse of $2,500 this year. Money was granted to the top-four jumpers, the top female jumper and athletes with the farthest jumps in the rounds of 32, 16 and 8. 

Steamboat’s McKenzie Maines, 14, was the female champion of the event. She was the lone girl to reach the Round of 8, and missed the final four by just half a meter with a jump to 71 meters. 

Arthur Keller nearly took home the top prize of Friday’s Ski Jumping Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill, taking home the silver medal after a 75.5 meter jump in the final round of the elimination jump competition.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Ski Jumping in the summer?

It may sound impossible to someone visiting Steamboat Springs for the first time in the summer months, but ski jumping is not just for the snow with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. 

Some of the ski jumps at Howelsen Hill have been converted into year-round jumps with a plastic surface in the summer and the typical snowy surface in the winter.

The HS75 jump was the first to be converted in 2006, followed by the HS45 jump in 2012. A beginner jump, the HS8, was completed in 2022 as a means to help beginning SSWSC jumpers start their progression to bigger jumps at any time of year. 

Tirone said jumping on the plastic is “relatively similar” to jumping on snow. He said the only real difference is the landing can be shaped differently with snow, generally leading to slightly further jumps in the wintertime. 

“Jumping in the summertime completely changed the sport,” said SSWSC Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Program Director, Todd Wilson, in a 2022 interview. “Imagine somebody like Tiger Woods only playing golf six months of the year. To be able to do it on a year-round basis has kind of become critical and your ability to improve is greatly increased when you can do it on a year-round basis.”

The 20th annual Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza podium on Friday. From left, Ben Leachman, Arthur Tirone, Arthur Keller, Ethan Maines and McKenzie Maines.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Steamboat’s Alexa Brabec was the female champion of Friday’s Nordic Combined roller ski event. She is one of many Nordic Combined National Team members to return home to Steamboat Springs for the Fourth of July and the annual Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza.
John F. Russell/Steambobat Pilot & Today
Arthur Tirone signs autographs for young fans after dazzling the crowd with his winning 76.5 meter jump at the 20th annual Ski Jumping Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill on Friday.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
A ski jumper blasts down the inrun track of the HS75 ski jump at Howelsen Hill, preparing for take-off just after few meters away during the 20th annual Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Men’s Nordic Combined National Team member Niklas Malacinski speeds down Lincoln Avenue en route to victory during the 3-kilometer roller ski race that was part of Nordic combined portion of the Jumpin’ & Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza, which was held on Lincoln Avenue just prior to the annual Fourth of July Parade on July 4, 2025.
John F. Russell/Steambobat Pilot & Today
Steamboat’s Ethan Maines jumped his way to the final round of the Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday, ultimately taking fourth overall.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Arthur Tirone celebrates in the outrun after a jump to 76.5 meters to win the 20th annual Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports club athlete Valentina Broggi leads the field as she competes in the 1-kilometer running race that was part of Nordic combined portion of the Jumpin’ & Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza, which was held on Lincoln Avenue just prior to the annual Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025.
John F. Russell/Steambobat Pilot & Today
McKenzie Maines flies 71.5 meters down the HS75 ski jump at Howelsen Hill, part of the Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Steamboat’s Langdon Devin flies down the HS75 ski jump during the Ski Jumping Extravaganza on Friday.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Alexa Brabec soars 69.5 meters down the HS75 ski jump at Howelsen Hill on Friday, part of the 20th annual Ski Jumping Extravaganza.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
U.S. Women’s Nordic Combined Team member Annika Malacinski competes in the 3-kilometer roller ski race that was part of Nordic combined portion of the Jumpin’ & Jammin’ Ski Jumping Extravaganza, which was held on Lincoln Avenue just prior to the annual Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025.
John F. Russell/Steambobat Pilot & Today
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