This year if you are looking for a new winter sport to fall in love with ski jumping may be the exact option for you! One of the best places to see this highly respected sport on the East Coast is at Salisbury’s Jumpfest on Friday, February 2nd Saturday, February 3rd, and Sunday, February 4th. The thrill of this event is that there are often Olympic hopefuls competing. And, even if there is no snow where you live, Satre Hill is always glistening in all its Alpine beauty, with white powdery snow thanks to the Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s (SWSA) state-of-the-art snow guns.
Let’s face it, some of us can’t ski, let alone fly through the sky with the hope of landing with elegance. Watching ski jumpers, many of whom just might be future Olympians is an unforgettably thrilling experience. One thing that keeps this sport exciting is that the margins are so fine and unpredictable that there is always a wide variety of winners and performances. Once you realize how difficult and technical this sport is it becomes even more interesting and inspiring to watch, live. “Salisbury’s Jumpfest is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Willie Hallihan, SWSA Director. “It’s a winter event that you won’t want to miss. The hint of frost in the air, the sound of ringing cowbells, and the crowds cheering on their favorite as the skis slap the landing hill make this event one of a kind.”
Friday’s events kick off when the gate opens at 6 p.m. The highlights of the night begin with Target Jumping at 7 p.m. The popular Human Dog Sled Race follows the Target Jumps where teams of six compete in this madcap event for a variety of prizes. There are only half a dozen places or so in the country that host this type of event and most of them are pretty far from Connecticut making this a spectacle of fun something not to be missed! To enter, email info@jumpfest, attention Brian. The fee to enter is a modest $25 per team that includes free entrance to Jumpfest! Proceeds benefit SWSA’s Junior Ski Programs.
On Saturday, February 3, the small hill opens at 8 a.m. for practice jumps. The Junior Competition on the 20-meter and 30-meter hills starts at 9:30 a.m. and is followed by the Salisbury Invitational Ski Jump on the 65-meter hill at 1 p.m. The day ends with the Snowball Fundraiser at the Lakeville Town Grove with music by the Steve Dunn Band.
To add to the festivities there are food trucks, craft beer, hot toddies, and bonfires to enjoy against the backdrop of skiers flying through the air!
And, if you work up an appetite, no worries, the Cook Shack offers a range of burgers, dogs, hot chocolate, and more, and the Low N Slow Food Truck serves BBQ, authentic poutine, mac n’ cheese, and many other selections on three days. There will also be a wine tent, a hot toddy tent, and the Great Falls Brewing Company’s beer tent.
Tickets will be available at the gate and are $15 for adults on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Kids 12 and under are free all three days. The cost of the Snowball is $20 and includes a cash bar, music, raffles, and pizza at 10 p.m. The ski jump complex is located at Satre Hill on Indian Cave Road in Salisbury. Before setting out check www.jumpfest.org for updates, scheduled changes, or more information or email the Association at info@jumpfest.org.
ABOUT SALISBURY WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association is to acquaint the public with Nordic ski-jumping, cross –country and Alpine skiing, and to teach the skills necessary for their enjoyment. One way of fulfilling this mission is to host the annual Jumpfest Competition on Satre Hill to sustain and ski jumping in Salisbury, Connecticut, and the Eastern United States.