Harris Hill
Harris Hill Continues to Soar
After a 31-year hiatus on the college level and a waning of popularity in this country, the once popular sport of ski jumping may be ready to soar again that is if the recently formed USASJ (USA Ski Jumping) has anything to say about it.
“Brattleboro’s Harris Hill is an important part of that effort,” says Rex Bell, former U.S. Ski Team coach, now Chairman of the Board of USASJ, and head of competition for Brattleboro, Vermont’s Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition.
The Harris Hill Ski Jump, the only Olympic-sized, 90-meter ski jumping hill in New England, will play host to its annual two-day ski jumping event February 18 and 19, 2012. This year’s event will be the only domestic stop in a nine-event International Skiing Federation (FIS) competition schedule, and will also serve as the United States American Ski Jumping (USASJ) tournament finals and the US Collegiate finals.
The two major competitions, merged in with the annual Pepsi Challenge and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament, will draw the best male and female ski jumpers from across the globe to Brattleboro, including those fighting to earn a spot on their respective 2014 Winter Olympic teams.
The annual jumping competition held on Harris Hill attracts several thousand spectators each year not only to watch local jumpers reach great heights but also to view world renowned jumpers soar in the sport of ski jumping. In 2009, the jump was completely rebuilt in accordance with FIS specifications.
Situated on the edge of a cornfield, the Harris Hill Ski Jump represents one of Brattleboro’s much loved traditions that dates back to 1922, before ski jumping 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 event grew to draw the world’s best jumpers. 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 in this small Vermont town. Harris Hill has been the site of 18 national and regional championships, with the most recent in 1992 when it hosted the National Championships.
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.
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 nearly 60 mph before they land.
Competition each day will start at noon and will conclude by 4 p.m. A family event, Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition weekend includes opening ceremonies, appearances by Jumper the mascot, food and drink vendors, a bonfire and more.
Ticket sales for the event will commence in January 2012. Expected prices are as follows:
advance purchase: $12 adults, $10 Youth (age 6-12 years); at the gate: $15 adults, $12 youth. Age five and younger are always free. The Richards Group and Pepsi have been sponsors for over 20 years.
For details on the event, please visit HarrisHillSkiJump.com.
