There’s a few activities I’ve come across in my life that suggest you’ve gotta be a little crazy to do them. In this list I include “climbing Mt. Everest”, “Bungee Jumping”, and “Bobsleigh Competition.”

Now don’t get me wrong I admire anybody that does those things but it’s not likely you’ll catch me doing them. Although standing on top of the world does have a kind of regal quality about it – but getting there doesn’t!

Now in the same vein as “Bobsleigh Competition” I place the sister sport of “Ski Jumping.” You know, this is the event where people fly off a platform at breakneck speeds, soar through open space and land feet first (hopefully) 200’-300’ beyond where they took off. Again, it’s a thrilling spectator sport.

Up until now I’ve only watched people perform this feat on TV – usually at the Olympics. But I learnt recently that in Connecticut there is a Ski Jumping venue at Satre Hill in Salisbury, where the U.S. Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships are held each year.

This year’s event will take place on February 10th and 11th. The evening of February 9th will feature kick off events, including are “Target Jump Under the Lights” at 7:00pm and fireworks at 9:00pm.

Competition proper starts the next day on the 10th with the junior contest and will feature 20 and 30 meter jumps, meaning leaps from 65 to 98 feet beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Satre Hill. The big event is Sunday, when the U.S. Eastern National Championships 64-meter jump takes place at 1 p.m. Skiers will be hoping to better the record jump of 65 meters, an impressive 231 feet. The weekend ends with awards and the announcement of members of the U.S. Eastern Junior Olympic Team on Sunday at 4 pm at the Salisbury Congregational Church.

Spectators and enthusiasts of the sport are encouraged to make as much noise as possible when the jumpers roar off the platform. Many people supplement cheering with jingling cowbells.

The whole event is put on by an outstanding group of volunteers under the auspices of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association.

Hot food and drinks will be available all day at the snack shack, and there will be plenty of time between events to explore the charming town of Salisbury with its many intriguing shops. While in Salisbury, be sure to visit the White Hart, the classic New England inn, on the Green, where an ice carving competition will be taking place on the lawn all day Saturday. Everyone is invited to the annual “Snowball” dance held at the White Hart on Saturday night (www.whitehartinn.com).

Satre Hill is on Indian Cave Road, off Route 44 in Salisbury. Admission to the Ski Jumping National Championships is $10 for adults, free for children under 12.

For more information on the ski jumping competitions, see www.swsa.info.

My thanks to Janet Serra, Director of Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau for bringing this event to my attention.

Further suggestions for destinations in Connecticut can be found at my Connecticut attractions section by clicking here.

Have a great weekend,

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
Online Guide to Destinations in New England

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