Fourteen kegs, one man. Impossible, you say? Not at this weekend's 17th annual Psi Upsilon fraternity Keg Jump.
In this Winter Carnival tradition, members of Psi Upsilon hurtle themselves over kegs which are laid out in a row. They gain the momentum they need by skating for several meters before attempting the leap.
In the past, the keg jump has become quite a bloody display, as brothers have broken ribs and suffered severe cuts and bruises as a result of their drunken attempts to clear many of the kegs.
It seems the alcohol gives them the desire, and perhaps the ignorance to try as many as 14 kegs. This year's group is as optimistic as ever as willing to distribute one-liners about their competition as they are to jump the kegs.
While some might dismiss it as simple barbarism, the competition clearly involves a large deal of athletic ability. Skating ability, balance, leg strength and yes, tolerance are all of paramount importance if one wants to win the keg jump.
Yes, there are winners at this contest. The competition begins with a single keg on the ice and all of the competitors jumping. After each round, a keg is added and drinking seems to be a constant throughout.
The aforementioned faculties make a good keg jumper and clearly the more experienced jumpers have to be considered favorites. With last year's winner Erik Weeman '97 having graduated, it seems like a wide-open race. Weeman cleared 11 kegs last year to win the title.
In order for the average viewer to be able to understand the going-ons this Saturday morning, here is The Dartmouth's guide to who will win this year's keg jump.
THE FAVORITES:
The clear-cut favorite was a late addition to this year's jumping list. David Mace '98 (2-1) hurtled himself over a record-tying 13 kegs two years ago when he was a rookie in this competition. Mace is an exceptional skater and leaper and should be the man to beat.
Just as Mace did a year ago, the brothers feel that Jumpin' Drew Pluhar '00 (6-1) could emerge as a sophomore sensation and steal the entire competition. His figure skating past should only help him in tomorrow's jump. He's been working on his double-lutz and flat-spins in preparation for the big day. Watch the Minnesotan to use his cold-weather acclimation to his advantage.
The other Drew in the competition is in it more for revenge. Telling a long and complicated story about his uncle's death due to his saving several children in a pond accident, Drew Mowery '00 (7-1) has vowed revenge. The children nearly drowned because an overturned truck spilled kegs which made holes in the ice, endangering the children and ultimately killing Mowery's uncle. "Those Psi U kegs are gonna pay for what they did," he said.
THE CONTENDERS:
W. Blair Kenney '98 (9-1) should factor into the competition. Despite the fact that some ridicule his height, Kenney sports amazingly strong legs which could catapult him to a title.
Greg Walsh '98 (9.5-1) is also the only competitor to have ever attempted jumping 12 kegs after removing his skates. An avid freestyle jumper, Walsh enjoys tandem jumping, being tossed over the kegs, and playing the dangerous, but personally fulfilling, role of the human keg. Expect yet another strong performance from this daredevil this weekend.
Adam "G n' R" Dietz '98 (10-1), a direct descendant of the Norse gods and a Boston resident, will certainly be a "wicked strong" contender this year. His improvement over the years makes him a 10-1 shot for tomorrow's shindig.
Hailing from Illinois, Marcus Coe '00 (10-1), a 6' 6", 220 lb. corn-fed farm boy, could turn a lot of heads come Saturday morning. While only a novice jumper, he's been on a rigorous training regimen that's included power lifting, Zen meditation, backgammon and several live viewings of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast on Ice." We're looking for a Cinderella story from this young man when he takes to the ice on Saturday.
A skater since the age of three, J. Ryan Gilfoil '98 (14-1) gave up skating seven years ago to try his luck in Hollywood. A part as Angry Drunk in Bar in 1992's "The Cutting Edge" led to a role as Legless Beggar in 1994's "D2: The Mighty Ducks." Gilfoil has since returned to skating, and is taking a break from the "Amistad-on-Ice" Ice Capades to compete in the keg jump.
John Ladson '98 (16-1) honed his skills in a Georgia penal orphanage until his skating might was such that he could leap over the cruelly sharp barbed-wire fence that separated him from freedom. Too busy training for the curling event in the Winter Olympics, Ladson has been unable to attend the last two keg jumps. He has vowed not to join the competition this year until the keg count reaches 35 to 45 or several of the competitors die violently and need to be "swept" away.
Last year's Hanover jump provided Greg Boison '99 (16-1) with the experience which led to his first place finish in The Molson Games last month in Montreal. When asked for predictions Boison said, "I had no improper relations with Monica Lewinsky."
THE DARKHORSES:
Chad "DL" Trexler '98: (21-1), a Philadelphia native, is making his third Winter Carnival appearance. He has bulked up significantly since last year's event, so this competitor may no longer be the ice eagle he once was. Trexler could play the part of a flightless inebriate, earning an early exit or could very easily shock the entire campus with his "secret weapon."
Jake Elberg '00 (25-1), citing racquetball and his two-handed backhand in pong as his most formidable talents, could play the part of the spoiler this weekend. It seems Elberg's only realistic chance to take home the title would be if all of the other competitors pass out first. He figures to clear five or six kegs.
THE PRETENDERS:
Hailing from the tough streets of Norfolk, Virginia, Teddy Rice '00 (102-1) has never had it easy. Busy with the toils of everyday life, they forgot to speak to Teddy. Consequently, his primitive vocabulary, consisting of a few basic phrases like "dude" and "damn shame," rendered him ineligible for most job markets. Always the scrapper, Teddy took to the streets and made a modest living hustling gangstas by launching himself face-first over burned-out car frames. He hopes these skills will carry him to victory in his first keg jump. He dedicates his performance to his guiding inspiration, Bruce Springsteen.
As the illegitimate son of Wayne Gretzky and Michelle Kwan, Watt Boone '00 (When hell freezes over-1) KNOWS skating. Raised by foster parents in the backwoods of the Deep South, Watt enjoys banjo-picking, grits eating, river-rafter tormenting, carpet-bagger hunting, and animal husbandry. Watt Boone is clearly not a favorite in the annual keg jump at Psi U.
