MEDIA ADVISORY

HARRIS HILL SKI JUMP HOSTS MEDIA EVENT AT HILL

WHAT:           Jumping, photo ops, event preview and meet jumpers participating in this year’s 90-meter competition for the USSA SuperTour, Pepsi Challenge, and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament.

WHO:              -Nick Fairall and Chris Lamb of Andover, NH, both jumpers who narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic team.

-Willy Graves of Putney, Vt., who thrilled spectators at last year’s event with his long jumps.

-Spencer Knickerbocker of Brattleboro, Vt.

-Members of the women’s ski jumping team.

-Two top Slovenian jumpers and two Austrian jumpers.

-Jumpers from clubs around the country including Park City, Central Division, Eastern Division.

WHEN:           Friday, February 12

10 a.m. - Noon:           Open Training

1 – 2 p.m.                    Media Event

1:30 – 3 p.m.               Open Training

WHERE:         Cedar Street, exit 2 off I-91, Brattleboro, Vermont

Competition Schedule

Saturday, February 13 Pepsi Challenge, SuperTour Finals and Target Jump

9 – 10:30 a.m.             Open Training

11 a.m.                        Opening Ceremonies

Noon                           Trial round & competition rounds

3:30 p.m.                     Awards at the hill

Sunday, February 15 Fred Harris Memorial Tournament and Target Jump

9 – 10:30 a.m.             Open Training

11 a.m.                        Opening Ceremonies

Noon                           Trial round & competition rounds

3:30 p.m.                     Awards at the hill                    

Details: Held the same week as the Olympics in Vancouver on a brand new Olympic-size, 90-meter hill, the Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition offers spectators an opportunity to experience the Olympic sport of ski jumping up close in all its breathtaking, heart-stopping glory as they watch the jumpers launch from the take off and soar more than 300 feet at speeds of nearly 60 mph before they land.

This year’s competition is attracting an impressive field of jumpers as the USSA SuperTour finals will take place on Saturday. This is also Harris Hill’s exciting come-back from 2009 when a record of more than 6,000 spectators turned out for the event.

Background: The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition is a celebrated Brattleboro, Vermont tradition that dates back to 1922. Harris Hill was the vision of Fred Harris of Brattleboro who founded the Brattleboro Outing Club and the Dartmouth Outing club. Only an occasional snow drought, World War II and a three-year hiatus to re-build the jump (2006 – 2008) have interrupted this annual tradition.

In 2009, ski jumpers from the US  and Europe competed at the grand re-opening of the Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition, presented by Pepsi-Cola to the cheers of a record-setting crowd of approximately 6,000 spectators. Harris Hill Ski Jump is the only 90-m ski jump in New England and the newest jump in the country. It has been designed to International Ski Federation (FIS) specifications, which will allow the hill to host Continental Cup events in the future. The event is run entirely by a volunteer Organizing Committee and supported by hundreds of community volunteers on the two days of the event. Sponsorship and donations make this event possible. Harris Hill Ski Jump is a 501 c 3 non profit organization.

More info and details:  harrishillskijump.org.

Contact:  Pat Howell, 802-365-4106; 802-380-5329 (cell) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it