SALISBURY, Conn. — It’s a few days early this year, but JumpFest, the annual Salisbury Winter Sports Association ski jump competition, is traditional in every other way. At nearly 100 years old, the sport has deep roots in Salisbury and draws young athletes from across the eastern United States to prove their skills.
This year’s program begins Friday, Jan. 31, with the gates opening for target jumping at 6 p.m. at 80 Indian Cave Road. The event is followed by one of the most popular events of the three-day weekend, the Human Dog Sled Race, in which zany humans draw “sleds” of their own design.
Saturday, the small hills open for practice at 8 a.m., followed by the Junior Competition on the 20M and 30M hills at 9:30 a.m. From 11 a.m. to noon, there will be practice on the 65M slope. The afternoon’s main competition beings on the hill at 1 p.m.
After a chance to warm up again, all are invited to the annual Snow Ball SWSA fundraiser at the Lakeville Town Grove, 8 to 11:30 p.m. There will be music by the Steve Dunn Band, a raffle and more. The entry fee is $20, with children 12 and younger, admitted free.
The weekend wraps up Sunday with the 65M hill open for practice at 11 a.m. and the Eastern U.S, Ski Jumping Championships starting at 1 p.m.. The eastern division Junior National Team will be named after Sunday’s competition.
For tickets, click here.
