SWSA Junior Jump Camp
Because of unfortunate weather, the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) annual Junior Jump Camp has been postponed from January 1st and 2nd to Saturday and Sunday, January 15th and 16th at Satre Hill in Salisbury, CT.
All other details remain the same.
The event is open to children ages seven and up who already downhill ski. Helmets required.
Organizers have made pandemic-related changes to keep youngsters safe.
Learn the basics of ski jumping with an emphasis on safety and control on SWSA’s smallest hill.
The two-day event which runs from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm each day costs $50 per child. The fee includes lunch both days, and the first 25 registrants will receive a Jump Camp T shirt.
Junior jumpers can join SWSA to continue practicing their techniques throughout the winter.
To pre-register or for more information call Ken Barker at (860) 806-0471 or email kennethsbarker@gmail.com.
Also visit jumpfest.org.
Human Dog Sled Race
The Human Dog Sled Race will be held Friday night, February 7, 2020, at Satre Hill (Ski Jumps), Indian Cave Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.
The event is part of Jumpfest 2020 (see Jumpfest profile) and is sponsored by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA).
The Human Dog Sled Race begins at the conclusion of the Ski Jumping Under the Lights (approximately 8:30 pm).
The entry fee is $25 per six-person team – admission fee is waived.
The admission fee for spectators is $15 per person, children 12 years old and under are admitted free.
The Human Dog Sled team consists of six people- five pullers and one rider pulling a sled of the team’s own design. The course is approximately 3/10’s of a mile long, using the outrun (the expanse where jumpers come to a stop).
Teams compete in timed, two-team races, and the two fastest times in each category will run a second race for the trophy. There will be three categories: men, women and mixed (at least one female puller).
The race-night schedule is as follows:
Ticket booth for Jumpfest opens at 6:00 pm. Team members should arrive early enough before start time to allow for organizing people and equipment, signing in and paying.
Event begins approximately at 8:30 pm, depending on when ski jumping ends.
Awards after race completion. Trophies will be awarded to first place winners for men, women and mixed divisions. There will also be a People’s Choice award for the best sled/ costume design.
Important notice: This event comes with risk. Participants should be reasonably fit. Also, occasionally during a race, a puller may fall and their sled may strike or slide over them. Although teams have wide latitude in designing their sled, please consider using a smooth bottomed design or better yet an air-filled design such as a large inner tube which would be less painful than a steel runnered sled, for example. The harness design also deserves consideration. A system where a falling puller can simply “let go” is preferable to a harness where all pullers are “locked in”- if they fall, they get dragged by the other pullers.
All team members must sign a liability release.
New entrants should email info@jumpfest.org for more information. To pre-register, again email info@jumpfest.org.
Proceeds from the Human Dog Sled Race will benefit SWSA’s junior ski programs.
For more information about jumpfest or SWSA visit jumpfest.org.
Jumpfest 2020
Excitement returns to Salisbury February 7 – 9, 2020 when the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) hosts the 94th Annual Jumpfest, a three-day celebration and competition featuring the best junior ski jumpers in the eastern United States. The jumpers you watch at Satre Hill are Junior National hopefuls, and some will go on to represent the US in the Olympics!
Things to Keep in Mind
We make our own snow. Even if the Winter looks brown outside your window, it’s white over at Satre Hill thanks to our two state-of-the-art snow guns.
We will do our part to keep you warm with blazing bonfires hot food and beverages hot and cold- but do dress warm- it’s Winter outside!
If you have never seen ski jumping live, and some of you in Salisbury still haven’t, you have never truly witnessed the sport. Standing amidst the ringing cowbells, with crowds cheering on their favorites, hearing skis slapping against the landing hill as these brave jumpers soar up to 200 feet through the air at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, is something you must experience.
94th Annual Jumpfest 2020
Friday Feb 7th
Friday Night Lights Admission $15
Ticket booth opens at 6:00 pm
Target Jumping Under the Lights 7pm
Human Dogsled Races after target jumping
Saturday Feb 8th
Junior 20 and 30 meter competition ( am.
Salisbury Invitational Ski Jumping Competition Admission $15
Practice 11 am-noon; Competition 1 pm
SWSA Snow Ball Dance at the White Hart Inn, featuring The Steve Dunn Band, Admission $15, raffle, silent auction.
8 pm- 11:30 pm Admission $15
Sunday Feb 9th
Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships Admission $15
Practice 11 am-noon; Competition 1pm
Children 12 and under Free to all events
Proceeds from all events fund SWSA youth skiing programs
For event updates and schedule changes, go to jumpfest.org
Please note: Children 12 and under free to all ski jumping events.
Proceeds from Jumpfest fund SWSA youth skiing programs.
Please check jumpfest.org for program changes and schedule updates.
Salisbury Winter Sports Association Junior Ski Jump Camp
Want to learn how to fly?
The Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) is again hosting a two-day ski jumping clinic on Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31, 2019 at Satre Hill in Salisbury. The jump camp runs 9:00 am to 2:00 pm each day.
Boys and girls seven years and older are welcome.
What to bring: Your enthusiasm, your downhill skis and boots (no need for poles) and your helmet.
Learn the basics of ski jumping, practice on the smallest hill and join Team SWSA and practice throughout the Winter for fun tournaments.
The cost for the entire two-day program is $50 per person which includes instruction, lunch and a T shirt to the first 25 registrants.
If you miss out on the Junior Jump Camp but still want to learn, you are in luck. Ariel invites anyone to join in the fun – jumping practice takes place several afternoons and at least one weekend day a week through the end of the season.
To pre- register or to get more information email Ariel Picton at ariel.swsa@gmail.com or call Ken Barker at (860) 806-0471.
Two Must-See Winter Events
If you live within sportingAcause’s territory – Pittsfield, MA down to Harwinton, CT and over to Poughkeepsie, NY, then you are pretty much a hour away from two amazing winter sports events within a 10 day span.
Beginning Thursday, Jan. 31st through Sunday, Feb. 3rd you can witness an honest-to-God curling Bonspiel at the Norfolk Curling Club in Norfolk, CT.
Then, four days later, Friday evening of Feb 8th through Sunday the 10th, you can see the equally amazing and exciting ski jumping during Jumpfest in downtown Salisbury, CT.
Curling first caught American attention several Winter Olympics ago when the sport inexplicably enjoyed a lopsided dose of TV coverage- what is this thing, curling?
Well you’ll have a chance to find out up close next weekend. You will be able to view the action in the comfort of the Norfolk Curling Club’s new state-of-the-art facility, as you snack and perhaps partake of a cocktail. And there will be many curlers nearby happy to answer any questions you have about the sport.
And it is free!
Now the following weekend you’ll get to see a different kind of winter sport- ski jumping at Jumpfest 2019 at the Satre Hill 65 meter tower in Salisbury sponsored by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA).
Now you may be saying “Yeah, yeah, I’ve watched ski jumping on TV – Olympics, Wide World of Sports…”
But listen closely – If you have not witnessed ski jumping live, you have not seen the sport.
These young athletes, some as young as 12, exit the tower’s take off at 50 miles an hour, travel upwards of 200 feet through the air and land, skis slapping on the landing hill right before your eyes. The crowds register their enthusiasm by cheering and ringing cowbells, and you will be one of them.
And another thing- jumpers you see up-close-and-personal in Salisbury will be in future Olympics- they are that good. Sunday will feature the Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships. There will be plenty to eat, beverages from hot chocolate to hot toddies, with bonfires and lots of camaraderie.
Adult admission is $15 but children 12 and under get in free.
Get all of the details for both events here at sportingAcause.com.
So there you have it- two cures for the mid-winter blues.
Til next week, Willie
