Press Releases Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition Set For
February 14 & 15 in Brattleboro
Brattleboro, VT – Spectators from around New England
will have an opportunity to witness the thrill of ski
jumping on February 14th and 15th when Harris Hill in
Brattleboro, Vermont hosts the 82nd annual Fred Harris
Memorial Tournament and Pepsi Challenge. One of New England’s premiere winter sporting
events, this competition brings ski jumpers from around
the world together for a weekend of competitive ski
jumping. The two-day event offers an up-close experience
with this breathtaking Olympic sport and a first-hand
understanding of why it’s called, ‘the original
extreme sport’. This year’s competition celebrates 82 years of
ski jumping in Brattleboro with an impressive field
of jumpers from the U.S. plus two Slovenian and two
Austrian jumpers, who will compete in a show of skill
and daring as they fly from atop Brattleboro’s
90-meter hill. Jumpers will be competing head-to-head
to set a new hill record. The hill record of 320 feet
was set in 2001 by a young Slovenian jumper to the excitement
of the crowd. Saturday features the PEPSI Challenge in which jumpers
are judged for form and distance in each of three jumps.
Sunday’s competition continues the tradition established
in 1923 with the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament in
which jumpers compete for their name to be added to
the coveted Winged Ski Trophy. A jumper who wins the
Fred Harris Tournament three times retires the elegant
trophy. This has happened five times since 1923, the
most recent in 2000 when the popular jumper, Vladimir
Glyvka, retired the trophy. Both Saturday and Sunday conclude with a crowd-pleasing
favorite, the Longest Standing Jump, in which jumpers
pull out all the stops and compete solely for distance—or
what we call “ BIG AIR.” Winners on both
days receive cash prizes. The event is sanctioned by the United States Ski Association. Sponsors for this year’s event include: Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Brattleboro/Northampton
– Event Sponsor; Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee,
C&S Wholesale Grocers and Holiday Inn Express in
Brattleboro – Major Sponsors; and Mount Snow –
Snowmaking Sponsor. The Competition gets under way at noon each day. Handicapped
parking, heated food tent, music, outstanding jumping,
and fun are the priorities of the day. Tickets are available
at the gate – $8 for adults, $6 for children 6
to 12 years old. Children 5 and younger are free. Advance
tickets are available at the Brattleboro Area Chamber
of Commerce – $6 for adults and $5 for children
6 to 12 years old. Group rates for 10 or more are available
by calling the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce
at 877-254-4565. Harris Hill is located off Exit 2, Interstate 91 in
Brattleboro. For information call 877-254-4565 or visit
our website at www.harrishillskijump.org |
