The Darien Times

One jumpin' time set for Salisbury slopes Feb. 10-12

Last Updated on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 04:31 PM Wednesday, February 01, 2012 04:25 PM

Something new has been added this year when the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) hosts the 86th Annual Jumpfest Weekend Feb. 10-12.

In addition to the US Eastern Ski Jumping Championships which attracts the most promising jumpers in the East, SWSA will, for the first time, host a USA Cup Series event, featuring senior and open class jumpers from around the United States including the Utah, Steamboat and Mid-west divisions.

The Salisbury event will serve as a final qualifier for USA Cup jumpers to participate in the FIS (International Ski Federation) Cup in Brattleboro Vermont the following weekend.

Winners of that event will win a summer trip to Europe to train.

Also new to Jumpfest will be the Human Dogsled Race.

This event, which debuted during Winter carnival, was an instant crowd favorite. It will run Friday evening after the target jumping.

Other Jumpfest events include perennial favorites including Target Jumping under the lights, the Chili Cook off, a Junior Ski jump meet, the Salisbury Invitational, the 11th Annual Ice Carving Competition and the Snow Ball.

A schedule of events

Friday, February 10th

Friday Night Lights

Chili Cook off starts at 6:30

Target jumping under the lights starts at 7

Human Dogsled Race following target jumping

Admission $10

Saturday, February 11th

Junior jumping competition begins at 9 am

USA Cup Series Competition (run concurrently with Salisbury Invitational)

Salisbury Invitational Competition practice 11 am, competition 1 pm

Admission $10

11th Annual Ice Carving Competition

Scoville Memorial Library, Salisbury

Competition 11 am- 3 pm, awards ceremony at 4 pm

Admission free

SWSA's Snow Ball dance at the Lakeville Firehouse

8pm- midnight

Admission $12

Sunday

Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service

At the Ambulance building across from the White Hart Inn

Adults $6, children 12 and under $4, menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausage,

orange juice, cocoa, coffee and tea

Eastern US Ski Jumping Championships

Practice 11 am, competition 1pm

Competition features Junior Olympic hopefuls

Admission $10

Note: Children 12 and under are free for all events

See www.jumpfest.org for details and updates.

A quick look back

No one could have guessed the long-term effect on the Village of Salisbury back in 1926 when a Norwegian immigrant moved to town.

John Satre was a ski jumper, and to demonstrate his sport to his new neighbors, he climbed to the peak of a barn roof and skied off its edge. The locals were so impressed they built a tower, and have been ski jumping ever since.

For over 80 years directors of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) have been the “Keepers of the Sport”, hosting their Eastern US Ski Jumping Championships every February, teaching skiing to area youngsters, sending the talented ones on to bigger venues and generally promoting ski jumping to a local audience.

But all of that changed in 2010- the local part that is. In a single year, SWSA torn down its rickety wooden tower; raised over $700,000 from generous townsfolk; built a new, state-of-the-art tower; hosted the national Junior Olympics in 2011 and along the way, gained national media recognition, garnered Ski Club of the Year honors and nearly tripled the attendance at their annual three-day Jumpfest weekend.

This Feb. 10-12 the quaint village of Salisbury will swell with over 5,000 visitors who come to watch ski jumping at its best, see some of the best ice carvers anywhere compete, see an exciting and hilarious Human Dogsled Race and otherwise soak up life in this quintessential New England town.

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