SALISBURY, Conn. — Ski jumpers from ski jumping clubs around the region donned their shiniest and most aerodynamic body suits and gathered at Satre Hill in Salisbury, Conn., on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 12 and 13, to soar through the air and land gracefully — skis firmly on powdery piles of snow — with plenty of fans to watch them land.
After they jumped the farthest they could, the question remained: How would they get back up to the top of the hill to do it all over again?
The answer was kindly provided by Millerton’s own North East Ford car dealership, located on Route 44. With one of the dealership’s own Ford pick-up trucks on hand at the well-attended tournament, organized by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA), any jumper who wanted a lift only had to ask, according to one of SWSA’s directors, Caroline Gilbert.
Gilbert said approximately 15 to 20 jumpers who competed on the large hill were ferried to the top thanks to North East Ford while “there were three [jumpers] who preferred to climb the steps!”
Millerton’s Jennifer Dowley is an active community volunteer and member of the Millerton Business Alliance. She’s always ready to promote local merchants who help other organizations when they need it. Dowley said the Jumpfest was a “great scene.”
Willie Hallihan, a SWSA director, agreed the group is lucky to have so many contribute to the annual sporting event.
“We are blessed at SWSA to have so much community support for what we do here, whether it’s volunteering, individual donations or local business sponsorships,” he wrote in an email to The Millerton News after the successful Jumpfest and right before the Junior Nationals. “It does take a village to put on Jumpfest and to maintain and grow all of our programs. We are beyond grateful for everyone who helps!”
Look for more great skiing this week, as SWSA hosts another huge event that began Tuesday and runs through the weekend. The 2022 Jumping/Nordic Combined Junior Nationals take place again at Satre Hill in Salisbury and the Mohawk Ski Area in Cornwall. Running from Feb. 22 through Saturday, Feb. 26, the junior competition happens every five years.
In addition to North East Ford, which is again transporting jumpers up the hill at Junior Nationals, Herrington’s, Harney & Sons Tea, Elyse Harney Real Estate and Salisbury Bank are major sponsors of this week’s ski jumps.
For more information, go to www.jncjn2022.com.
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