Flying High Again in Brattleboro, Vermont
Volunteers Rally to Bring Back Much Loved Tradition of Ski Jumping
on Valentine's Weekend in this Small Town
 
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT—January 8, 2009—Brattleboro, Vermont can now claim the newest 90-meter ski jump in the country (and the only 90-meter jump in New England) just in time for the 85th annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition presented by Pepsi-Cola slated for Valentine's Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15.
 
Ski jumping at Harris Hill is one of Brattleboro's much loved traditions that dates back to 1922. Over the years the event grew to draw jumpers and spectators from around the world to this small Vermont town. After the 2005 event, the jump had to be shut down due to the wooden structure falling into disrepair and safety concerns for the jumpers.
 
But the community wouldn't let this long-standing tradition die. A successful community effort and last-minute help from the Manton Foundation preserved the legacy. As the new hill nears completion on schedule—and none too soon for the construction team that faces the challenges of working on a frighteningly steep incline in bitter cold weather, Pat Howell, co-chair of the organizing committee that runs the competition reflects, "I am absolutely in awe…this is the culmination of three years of tenacious volunteer effort, out-of-the-box thinking, local 'can do' attitude and stunning generosity."
 
As reported in the January 7 edition of the Rutland Herald, "this is the Vermont version of a field of dreams."
 
Situated on the edge of a Brattleboro cornfield, the brand new jump was totally re-built to FIS (International Federation of Skiing) specifications and will once again bring jumpers from around the world to compete in the two-day event that is now sanctioned by the US Ski Association (USSA).
 
Approximately 20 top jumpers from the United States and Europe will compete this year at the Grand re-opening competition—one of New England's premiere winter sporting events. The Harris Hill venue offers spectators a thrilling experience with this Olympic sport and a first-hand understanding of why it's called "The Original Extreme Sport™. Spectators can watch the jumpers up close as they launch from the top of the jump—so close that they can hear the "whoosh" as they take off and soar more than 300 feet at speeds of 60 mph before they land.
 
The festival atmosphere of the event is led by fans of all ages. Concessions, a bonfire, a beer tent and event souvenirs will all be on-site. But it's the opportunity to watch the best skiers around the world compete on a jump that was rebuilt due to the dedication of Southern Vermont's own that will make this event soar to new heights in February.
 
The 85th Annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition is presented by Pepsi-Cola; Powered by Entergy and Powdered by Mount Snow. For updated information, including full schedules, tickets, results and information about purchasing a step, go to HarrisHillSkiJump.org.
 
The Legacy:
The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition is a celebrated Brattleboro tradition that dates back to 1922, before it was even an Olympic sport. It was the vision of Fred Harris of Brattleboro who founded the Brattleboro Outing Club and the Dartmouth Outing Club. The two-day ski jumping tournament brings world-class jumpers from around the world to compete. Over the years, Harris Hill has been the site of 18 national and regional championships, with the most recent in 1992 when it hosted the National Championships.
 
Crowds of thousands would come from near and far in their best furs (now replaced with Gore-Tex and down) and regalia to witness the event. Over the years, it has become a tradition with the people of western New England and has continued its reputation for attracting an enthusiastic crowd of spectators.
 
Only an occasional snow drought and World War II have interrupted this annual tradition, until recently when the jump fell into disrepair. After the 2005 event, the organizers of the jump determined a complete overhaul of the hill was necessary.
 
Ski jumping is a sport that truly needs to be seen up close to be appreciated. Skiers sit atop the jump, and speed down a minus-10 degree incline. The incline ends in an upward sweep, literally launching the skier into the air, where they soar for up to 300 feet before they land. 
 
The first known ski jumper was Norwegian Olaf Rye, who jumped 9.5 meters in 1809 before an audience of other soldiers. By 1862, ski jumpers were tackling much larger jumps, and competing in official ski jumping contests. Ski jumping has been part of the Olympic Winter Games since the first Games in Chamonix, in 1924.
 
About Brattleboro, Vermont:
For those who like their adventures more grounded, Downtown Brattleboro turns into a moving party on the first Friday evening of every month. For Gallery Walk, the streets are crowded with people, the town's many art galleries open their new shows, street musicians fill Main Street with music, stores stay open late, and cafes and restaurants fill with art lovers.
 
As the seventh largest Vermont town, Brattleboro is one of the most cosmopolitan and has long been a center for the arts with numerous writers, painters, poets, and artisans living in and around the area with its share of Who's Who. Rudyard Kipling, Robert Frost, Sinclair Lewis, Pearl Buck, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Grace Paley, Craig Nova, Jamaica Kincaid and renowned artist Wolf Kahn and architects Richard Morris Hunt and William Rutherford Mead, are just a few of the many who have made a home here.
 
With its classic red-brick Victorian Main Street, Brattleboro was voted in the top five of the best small towns in America, and is Number 10 on John Villani's list of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns." Its cultural riches have been touted in American Style and Yankee Magazine.  It is the home of the Vermont Jazz Center, the Art Deco Latchis Theater, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, the Brattleboro Music Center and the New England Youth Theater and boasts its own circus school.
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