FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2010

HARRIS HILL ATTRACTS TOP JUMPERS TO 2010 SKI JUMPING WEEKEND

Annual Event to Take Place February 13 & 14 in Brattleboro, Vermont

Brattleboro, VT - Brattleboro is looking at a very strong field of ski jumpers from the U.S. and Europe for this year’s Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition, set for Saturday and Sunday, February 13 – 14.

The impressive field of jumpers is due in part to Harris Hill hosting the USSA SuperTour finals as part of the traditional ski jumping weekend. The SuperTour, held at jumps around the country, attracts jumpers looking to earn points to allow them to participate in world Continental Cup events. 

“We have jumpers coming from all over the country to compete this year,” notes Rex Bell, Chief of Competition. “This is a great opportunity to see Olympic-size ski jumping close to home.”

U.S. Ski Team jumpers, Nick Fairall and Chris Lamb of Andover, NH will be competing. Both jumpers narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic team.

U.S. Ski Team jumper, Willy Graves of Putney, Vt., who thrilled spectators at last year’s event with some long jumps, will return to try to put a leg on the famed winged ski trophy as part of the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on Sunday.

“If you can’t get to Vancouver to see Olympic ski jumping, Harris Hill is the place to be,” said Betsy Farley, Co-Chair of the Harris Hill Tournament. “We have a new, Olympic-size hill and some very talented jumpers who are sure to thrill spectators with their heart-stopping jumps.”

Spencer Knickerbocker of Brattleboro, the first jumper to go off the new, 90-meter jump at Harris Hill last year, will be competing. Spencer trains at Lake Placid, NY at the Olympic facility.

Other outstanding jumpers will be on hand from clubs around the U.S., including members of the women’s national ski jumping team. In keeping with the Harris Hill tradition of welcoming European jumpers, two top Slovenian jumpers and two Austrian jumpers will be participating in the weekend’s jumping.

The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition, presented by PEPSI, gets under way at 11 a.m. both days—a change from previous years. In addition to competing for style and distance, each official round will feature a new competition for the longest jump, sponsored by Brattleboro Savings and Loan. The day concludes with a favorite, the target jump, sponsored by Chittenden Bank, where jumpers pull out all the stops and compete solely for distance, aiming for the “target” painted on the snow.

Tickets for the event are available at the gate for $15 adults, $10 youth (6-12 years), under 6 are free. Advance sale tickets are at participating local businesses, and online at BrattleboroTix.com.

*It takes more than volunteers to make Harris Hill a success and volunteers are still needed. 

The Harris Hill Ski Jump website – HarrisHillSkiJump.org – has all ticket outlet and volunteer information available.

The ski jump is located on Cedar Street in Brattleboro, Vt. Take Exit 2 off I-91 and follow the signs. For more information, visit HarrisHillSkiJump.org or call 877-254-4565.

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Contact Info:

Pat Howell

802-365-4106 (h)

802-380-5329 (m)

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