SWSA Ski Jumping and Nordic Team Blog

Good News Stories...more posts coming soon!

2012-02-28T10:14:00.002-08:00

US Women's Team News!

Boston Globe Coverage of Brattleboro...Spencer Knickerbocker-Jumpfest veteran!

AOC Jumps Part Deux, Sounds Pretty Cool

2012-02-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Let's get some SWSA jumpers there!!!

From the AOC:

Here's the schedule for the Andover Nordic Festival, February 25th and 26th.

Hills will open for practice on Saturday 2/25 at 4PM. After 45 minutes or so, we'll start marking some distance if that seems to fit in. During the practice period, we'll have an obstacle course available which will start with the roller jump and include putting one's skis on - rolling over a bale of hay and several other elements. After everyone who wants to has had a chance at the obstacle course, we'll have jumping though a hoop of fire on the K18. This is pretty cool at night.

After the Hoop, we'll have a good dinner in the Proctor Lodge.

Sunday will be a traditional Nordic Combined Meet. The jumps will open at 9AM, the meet starting at 10 AM.

Jumpers are asked to pick the size jump on which they want to compete for a medal. They can jump for fun on another hill.

The combined race will start at about 1PM with Nordic combined awards to follow that. Registration will be $20.

The first 50 kids to Pre-register will get a string pack and hat with an Eastern Ski Jumping Logo. In the pack will be a bunch of other stuff Ask jumping cap- a pin - stickers - and Eastern Bells for parents to ring etc.

We are asking some High School Jumpers who might want to keep their season going.

Tim Norris

Fantastic Weekend at Satre Hill

2012-02-13T13:25:00.003-08:00

Results from the weekend...very impressive!

Way to go Coach Mark...a star in the Masters category. Hats off to Julian, too, who was a big help on the 20K Saturday morning.

There are no photos with this post...there were lots of very capable photographers catching the action Friday-Sunday. The iPhone can't compete.

Again, the SWSA volunteers were remarkable. Weather challenges did not stop them this weekend either. Their good work does not go unrecognized.

Finally, it seems like the Eastern Team headed off to Park City with Coach Bliss is a particularly strong one. It is always incredible to host such amazing talent in our town. Junior Olympians and future USA Olympians! Inspiring!

A Must Read!

2012-02-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

This document is available to all on the NENSA website-well done NYSEF. It is a very good guide for parents and athletes involved or interested in the sport.

This will be posted on the links portion of the blog, too.

Jumpfest Weekend! Saturday morning jumps for Team SWSA

2012-02-06T05:34:00.001-08:00

Schedule posted on the SWSA homepage. Friday night lights, Saturday jumping starting at 9am on the K20 and the afternoon on the big jump, Saturday night dinner and Snow Ball, and the Sunday conclusion!

Special thanks to the NYSEF hosts for their great work during the Empire State Games. They put on a top-notch event and were especially helpful and welcoming with the SWSA jumpers.

Do youth basketball players get to play in the Boston Garden? If an athlete goes to Lake Placid, he/she gets to use the same facilities as the best in the USA and world!

"I am cool. I am the breeze." Alpine Ski Jumping Rocks!

2012-01-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

If you missed it, you missed out. Once again, SWSA put together a fantastic event...even with weather challenges, the western alpine jumpers had a fantastic weekend and put on a great show. There is no question that SWSA is a volunteer organization like not other! Thanks to the alpine jumpers, too, for their hard work in prepping the k20 and the big jump.

This author will reserve any editorial comment on the human dog sled race other than to say it was entertaining.

Alpine Jump Skis

221 CM skis...the jacket says it all!

A well prepared k20 in-run for the SWSA jumpers!

Three of the four jumpers from Saturday afternoon. Good work boys!

Red Bull Jumping from China

2012-01-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

Amazing!

http://player.vimeo.com/video/31481531

Gelande This Weekend! Saturday Nordic Kids Jumping 1-3pm, too

2012-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Lebanon Outing Club results, here (as soon as Ski Jump East posts them)! Two SWSA jumpers attended, a J4 and a J3.

Annual Fund Appeal for SWSA

2012-01-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

For those of you who like Hollywood...this was done for a LA school appeal. Entertaining

Don't give!

WINTER CARNIVAL-January 28, 29 at Satre Hill

2012-01-17T05:28:00.000-08:00

Children's/Youth Jumping (that is, TEAM SWSA) SATURDAY (28th) afternoon, 1-3 on K20 and K30.

This video will get you inspired...

Universal Sports Coverage

SWSA Updates

2012-01-15T13:01:00.000-08:00

SWSA news: Lots of snowmaking going on! Coach Mark will be doing a jump practice at 2:30 Monday, MLK Jr. Day. The K20 is in good shape. Lebanon, NH jump event on Saturday. Empire State Games on February 4th. Salisbury jumping event the weekend of the 28-29 of January! Keep practicing Team SWSA!

Andover, NH Results from January 8th

2012-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Andover results, 40 jumpers from CT, NH, VT and NY.

http://www.skijumpeast.com/results/rslt12f.htm

Jump Camp photos

2012-01-05T17:37:00.001-08:00

New Home Event! K20 and K30 for Team SWSA

2012-01-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

On Saturday January 28 1-3pm

More details to follow!

This makes two homers including the jumpfest weekend in February!

FIRST EVENT of the 2012 SEASON!

2012-01-03T12:44:00.001-08:00

Yahoo! The first meet of the season!!!!

ANDOVER OUTING CLUB E-Mail REGISTRATION

Sunday, Jan. 8th, 2012

Ski Jumping and Nordic combined Events

Please email Jane Hubbard back by Jan.6th –jhubb_99@yahoo.com

USSA membership is required for Eastern skiers although not required for this meet; forms are available at (USSA.org)

****************************************************************

First/Last Name:

USSA # (if you are trying out for Junior Olympics)

Mailing Address:

Telephone Number:

Preferred household e-mail:

Date of Birth:

Male or Female:

Club Affiliation:

Class* (J5, J4, J3, J2, J1, OJ, SR, Master, Women's):

Are you on Alpine or Jumping skis?

Are you doing the Nordic Combined event? (yes or no):

Are you trying out for Nordic combined Junior Olympics?

Which hill(s) will you be jumping? K10 or K18 K34 or K38

(You may jump EITHER the K10 or K18, not both. Ditto the K34 and K38. You may jump a smaller hill and a larger hill.)

That is it! – THANKS and see you on the 8th. ;o)

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

USSA SKI JUMPING and NORDIC COMBINED AGE CLASSES

CLASS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AGES

Youth/J5~~~~~ ~~~~~~ 9 & Under

Youth/J4~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 - 11

Youth/J3~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 - 13

Junior 2~~~~~~~~~~~~ 14 - 15

Junior 1~~~~~~~~~~~~ 16 - 17

Older Jr~~~~~~~~~~~~ 18 - 19

Senior~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20 - 29

Master 1-5~~~------~~~ 30 & over

(Eastern athletes, if you are trying out for the Junior Olympics, you must hold a USSA competitors license (not the youth license) and register as a J2 at the Eastern JO qualifying events)

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE JUMPS ON COMPETITION DAY, COME INTO THE SKI LODGE AND

A - Sign a Proctor waiver

B - Pay entry fee: 13 and under $5

14 and older $10

C – Pick up your bib

E - Go jump long, look good and have fun!

Questions? Please contact Tim Norris

tgn@proctornet.com

Saturday, Jan. 10th

Practice from 3-5:30. The charge for this will be $5. Pay upstairs at the snackbar.

Sunday, Jan. 11

8:30 - 9:30 Sign releases, pay, get your bib

9:00 - Hills open for practice

9:55 - National Anthem (if Jon Farnham shows) - or photo op.

10:00 - K10 meet followed by the K18; K34/38

Jumping Awards will be about 20 minutes after the completion of the K38 comp

1:00 Very informal X-C Race

The snack bar will be open for lunch.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

In Case You Missed It Last February-NPR Report!

2012-01-02T05:47:00.000-08:00

SWSA's own on NPR!!!

http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2011/02/26/ski-jump

NEW GEAR!

2011-12-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

Photos to come...thanks SWSA!

http://www.ski-skisprung.com/?lang=en

boots and skis

YES, Team SWSA will be jumping Thursday and Friday

2011-12-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

See Ken pushing the snow? GO Ken GO!

Thanks to all who worked hard to prep the hill and Byrd House!

Merry Christmas, Santa is fired up for Jump Camp, too!

2011-12-25T13:13:00.001-08:00

See everyone at 9am Thursday!

JUMP CAMP Thursday and Friday! Dec. 29, 30

2011-12-25T05:07:00.001-08:00

December JUMP CAMP!!!

2011-11-28T09:54:00.001-08:00

Salisbury Winter Sports Association

Invites you to join us and learn to Ski Jump

SKI JUMP CAMP DEC. 29 & 30 2011

No experience is necessary

Who: Boys and Girls Ages 7 and older

When: Thursday and Friday, December 29 &30 2011

Time: 9 AM-3 PM

Where: Satre Hill, Indian Cave Road, Salisbury CT

Cost: $40 per skier, for both days, includes lunch and T-shirt

To pre-register or for more information contact

Ken Barker at 860-806-0471or

Email kennethsbarker@gmail.com

TEAM SWSA Gear-Stay Tuned for Details!

2011-10-06T18:48:00.001-07:00

Photos from June Grasshopper Camp in LP

2011-10-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

Jumping/Nordic Combined 2011-12 Season Speculation

2011-10-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Summer is over, THINK SNOW!!!

2011-12 Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Competition Listing for Nordic Kids (click on)

A total of about 12 events are on the schedule for Team SWSA kids! Who's not fired up?

Word is that SWSA will be hosting TWO invitationals this winter (more on this rumor later!); this may mean two home events for the Nordic Kids, too!

Plans are already in the works for the Christmas Jump Camp...two days of leg burning fun. Will the large numbers from the JO winter of 2010-11 be back? With Coach Mark and Coach Ken leading the way, the answer is surely a "yes."

Caleb and Jamie did the Grasshopper Jump Camp(s) at Lake Placid in June and July (Coach Mark took a lot of photos...to come in the next post). Thanks again to the Northway Inn, the official inn of TEAM SWSA.

This Is Crazy Jumping

2011-04-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqhlfz9GQPE

"10 Biggest and Baddest Jumps Ever"

Nordic Kids Fest in Lake Placid

2011-04-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Cross country races, jumping, nordic combined and paintball...a weekend well lived for the athletes. results: http://skijumpeast.com/results/rslt11n.htm One lone SWSA boy travelled North and did quite well in the big picture against the NYSEF juggernaut. A final thanks to SWSA coaches: Crosby (cross country), Mark (jumping) and, of course, Ken!!!

SWSA End of Season Dinner-Yahoo!

2011-04-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 3rd

5:30pm

Town Grove

Lakeville, CT

Lots of Bronze...good work Team SWSA

2011-03-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

Three SWSA athletes travelled to Lake Placid for a weekend of ski jumping and skiing.

Congrats to Jeremy for his results on the K48...a third in a very competitive category.

Orrin travelled to his first away event and earned a third in the J4 category on the K18. He braved the nordic combined...in alpine gear!

Caleb was fourth in the J5 on the K18 and earned a 3rd place in the nordic combined team event.

The results can be found on the "What's New" section of the http://www.skijumpeast.com/ website.

One more event left...the Nordic Kids Festival in LP on March 19-20. A strong handful of Team SWSA did the event in 2010 and loved it! Jumping, cross country skiing and paintball biathlon! Information available on http://nysefskijumping.blogspot.com/.

Good News for the Future!

2011-03-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/sports/05skijump.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Also, good luck Jeremy, Orrin and Caleb in LP this weekend with ski jumping and nordic combined. Results to come later!

What To Do? Lake Placid, of course!

2011-03-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

http://nysefskijumping.blogspot.com/

Ski jumping and nordic combined this weekend (March 5th), regristration link above!

And, how about the Lion's Club event in Lake Placid (March 19-20)? This is about as much fun as a 9-10 year old can have...ski jumping, skiing and PAINTBALL biathlon. Same registration link as above.

Saturday JO, Sunday K20

2011-02-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

DO NOT miss the Saturday JOs...fantastic.

Closing ceremonies...check out JO website, www.2011juniorolympics.com for the schedule.

8:30pm closing ceremonies.

SUNDAY: jumping on the K20...subject to change...planning for noon!

Jumpfest Photos, finally!

2011-02-22T13:39:00.001-08:00

This Coming Sunday, SWSA In-House Candy Bar Tourney

2011-02-21T05:23:00.000-08:00

SWSA Jumpers,

EVENT ALERT!

Details to come...Sunday morning on the K20, jump for distance and judged for landings.

Chocolate bars all around!

Enjoy the JOs this week.

http://www.2011juniorolympics.com

Way To Go Coaches!

2011-02-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-salisbury-ski-jump-0221-20110220,0,4816272.story?page=1

Very Famous People on NBC Hartford!

2011-02-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

2011 Junior Olympics Website Link and SWSA Facebook

2011-02-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

2011 Junior Olympics

SWSA on Facebook

How Cool Is All of This? Congrats to Coach Mark, too!

2011-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

Where have you seen us? Jumpfest and Junior Olympic Press!!!

• ABC/WTEN Andrew Brill (Albany Station 2-11-11)

WTEN video link - News 10 Sports: Conn. ski jump restored
• Berkshire Living : Seth Rogovoy
• (http://berkshireliving.com/Junior-Olympics-ski-jumping-nordic-combined-Feb-Mar-2011)
• Country and Abroad
• Connecticut Magazine
• Cross Country Skier
• Hartford Business: Brad Kane
• (http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news16599.html)
• Hartford Courant, Lori Riley
• Hammertown Calendar: Mary Murfett
• (http://www.hammertown.com/2011/01/85th-annual-salisbury-jumpfest-feb-11-13/)
• Litchfield Magazine/Morris Media: Amanda Bergen
• (http://www.townvibe.com/Litchfield/Holiday-2010/Might-As-Well-Jump/)
• Litchfield Country Times: Doug Clement
• (http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2011/01/28/l_c_t_monthly/doc4d432b3085f89125206749.txt)
• Lakeville Journal
• NBC-CT (Kerri Lee Halkett Mayland 2-11-11)
• NECN- Brian Burnell (live footage 2/1/11-If you go to www.necn.com and search Salisbury, Ct it will bring up the piece.
NECN video link - http://www.necn.com/02/01/11/Ski-jumping-in-Connecticut/landing_weather.html?blockID=402083&feedID=4211&
• New York Times: Bill Pennington (2-8-10) - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/sports/skiing/09skijump.html
• Poughkeepsie Journal: Without Limits Nancy Haggerty (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110130/SPORTS05/101300394/Without-Limits-Bleveans-is-9-year-old-daredevil-on-skis&template=artsemantics&server=MOC-WN0489)
• Register Citizen
• Rural Intelligence Calendar
(http://www.ruralintelligence.com/index.php/ruralroadtrips_section/ruralroadtrips_articles_excursions/)
• US Ski Jumping (Peter Graves) Communications Director USA Ski Jumping
• Skitrax Website
• Shopper Guide (2-10-11)
• Sunday Republican (2-13-11) Jim Moore
• Travel Video
• http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/united-states-east/01-19-2011/junior-olympics-picks-litchfield-hills-connecticut-for-national-ski-jump-competitions-on-salisburys-new-olympic-size-hill)
• Western CT CVB
• Waterbury Republican-Joe Palladino (2-10-11)

Photographers
Ian Johnson 518-592-1121
Joe Meehan 860.824.0866
Phil Madellena 860-378-9031
Neil Tolhurst: 869-738-4640 Acura, Audi, GM, Lamborghini, Porsche, Saab, Volvo, VW
Chris McGuire: chris.mcguire9@gmail.com

Slideshow ads:
1. Kiosk’s In Salisbury
2. Millerton Movie House (Millerton, NY) Double air time paid by Churchill Brothers
3. Beacon Movie Theater (Great Barrington, MA) Paid by Churchill Brothers
4. Bantam Cinema (Bantam, CT) Paid by Churchill Brothers

Radio: Double airtime refers to advertisements negotiated by W. Hallihan in the program in exchange for airtime that Churchill Brother’s than organized to double.

1. WZBG Double air time Paid by Churchill Brothers
2. WKZE Double air time Paid by Churchill Brothers
3. WQQQ Double air time Paid by Churchill Brothers
4. WZBG Paid by Churchill Brothers
For more information on Jumpfest 2011 and the USSA Junior Olympics visit to Salisbury go to jumpfest.org, that’s www.jumpfest.org Remember your cowbells

Great Weekend Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined!

2011-02-13T12:47:00.000-08:00

25 athletes competed in the K20 jumping at 9am Saturday. This number doubled recent years with a strong showing from the host team, SWSA. The crowd was impressive too. Clearly, a few jumpers have groupies. The life lessons were strong and evident: getting up after a fall, being a risk taker, competing for the love of sport, making friends with one time adversaries and, of course, sometimes overachieving.

The late afternoon Nordic combined race had an equally strong 14 participants. While it was led by Team NYSEF, the skiers from CT and NH were more than mere players. SWSA set a great but cardio crushing course. Anyone who finished was a victor...trust me, I tried the loop Sunday morning and have huge respect for all 14 sets of uber lungs.

Jeremy D was the lone SWSA jumper on the K30; he earned 2nd in a very talented category.

Results are posted on www.skijumpeast.com, "what's new."

Also, a big thanks to the Lakeville Hose Co for a fantastic awards dinner!

Photos to come in the next post. Some very good ones of a great day!

Congrats to all of SWSA for a job well done. There is no question that Salisbury will host a great JO,

Jumpfest Schedule-FINAL!

2011-02-10T07:11:00.000-08:00

9am Saturday-K20 and K30 ski jumping-Satre Hill

11:30am Saturday-Nordic Combined competition-Trotta Field

Saturday night-FOOD and FUN!

The Joy of Jumping! Lake Placid K48 and K18 Comps

2011-02-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

USA, USA! http://www.skijumpeast.com/whatsnew.htm

Cross Country Skiing at Trotta Field!

2011-02-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

Nordic combined start photo from Andover, NH.

Cross country practice this Thursday at the freshly groomed Trotta Field at 3:30pm.

Come and dust Coach Crosby in relay loops!

JUMPFEST!!!

2011-02-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Team SWSA Schedule:

Saturday, 2/12-9am 20 and 30 meter ski jumping competitions, Satre Hill

Awards Dinner at Lakeville Hose Company, 6pm

Snow Ball Dance at Wake Robin Inn, 8pm

Sunday, 2/13-9am Nordic Combined, Trotta Field

NECN Ski Jumping Story! Nice work SWSA!

2011-02-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

www.necn.com/02/01/11/Ski-jumping-in-Connecticut/landing_weather

Lake Placid Comp This Saturday, Jumpfest Soon! See NYSEF link for details>

2011-02-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Too Bad They Don't Live in Salisbury!

2011-01-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

The future of mountain biking is indoors!?http://www.adventure-journal.com/2011/01/the-future-of-mountain-biking-is-indoors/

Support SWSA Ski Jumping

2011-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

Log onto http://www.jumpfest.org to donate.

Your donation will help SWSA equal a $25,000 "matching" pledge!

Your donation will help perpetuate the an 85 year tradition of ski jumping! There are not many places in the United States that can claim such a treasure.

SWSA is a gem. While there are surely other fine community based organizations, there is none better. Volunteerism at its best!

Your gift will allow for future jumpers and skiers to be able to participate in a life-lesson filled sport. It is pretty fun for them, too!

This clip is a fun one from a fundraising campaign for a LA school.

Photos from the Weekend-Good Turnout!

2011-01-24T13:07:00.001-08:00

All Angles of Jumping

2011-01-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

Weekend Competition and Practices, 1/22-1/23

2011-01-20T10:52:00.001-08:00

Eventhough this guy is coming to town this weekend, Coach Ken will have the K20 groomed and reading for jumping Saturday and Sunday. Contact kennethsbarker@gmail.com with questions.

There are two events in New Hampshire this weekend: Saturday in Lebanon and Sunday in Hanover. At least one jumper is headed North for both events. Another may just do Sunday's jump and nordic combined.

DON'T FORGET cross country practice each Thursday with Coach Crosby. No experience necessary. If you have questions, contact Peter Gilbert, peterbgilbert@gmail.com.

Photos from Andover, NH Ski Jumping n' Nordic Comb 1/9/11-Unplugged!

2011-01-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

Top Photo: The massive crowd for the jumping awards ceremony...where's Jeremy?

Second: The start of the J3-J5 nordic combined cross country skiing. It was a really tough, technical course. Lots of up and up and, finally, some down.

Third: The K18 hill!

Fourth: Pre-event photo of all competitors. What a great sport---young and old(er) together.

What's missing?: no cell phones, handheld games, smart phones, etc...

Just good fun with kids working hard and entertaining themselves and each other.

Success in Andover, NH!

2011-01-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

More to come later...

But, Jeremy Downs won a gold on the K18 in his category, "Open Division". Nice work JD!

Caleb Gilbert won two silvers: one in the J5 K18 jump, one in the J5 nordic combined event.

SWSA had a lot of fun and represented the Northwest corner nicely.

Congrats to all the jumpers and cross country skiers. The NYSEF crew from LP was especially impressive.

It was a well run event with great spirit...what else would one expect from the ski jumping community!

This weeks schedule:

cross country practice Thursday at 3:30pm

jumping on the K20 Saturday and Sunday

SWSA Membership

2011-01-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.jumpfest.org/membership/

Come hang out with us!

Cross Country Skiing Practices

2011-01-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

Every Thursday afternoon at 3:30 at Satre Hill with Coach Crosby Fish-one time NYSEF uber athlete!

SWSA membership required.

Classic and skate skiing, all are welcome!

A Note From Coach Ken About Practices!

2011-01-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

Everyone at SWSA hope that you and your children enjoyed the ski jumping camp on Dec 27th and 28th. We were all thrilled to have 26 children show up and participate! Practice will continue for those that are interested.

WHEN: Saturdays from 10am until 12 and then again from 1pm until 3pm. Skiers may choose both sessions or just one.

Sundays 11am until 1pm and then again 1pm until 3pm. Again they may choose one or both.

If children are staying for both please have them bring along a lunch etc.

COST: There is no cost for practices for the remainder of the season. We will require by Jan 15th that skiers join the US Ski and Snowboard as a Junior Competitor. This will cover them not only at or facility but throughout the country. Also a membership with Salisbury Winter Sports will be required. I am happy to help you with the paperwork.

Ski Jumping Recruiting Video-fun!

2011-01-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

Jump Practice Schedule TBD...Contact Coach Ken for Details

2010-12-30T04:42:00.000-08:00

kennethsbarker@gmail.com

Details for cross country skiing practice to come soon!

Happy New Year! "Jump Camp" a Huge Success!

2010-12-30T04:22:00.001-08:00

Coach Ken Barker-and many other remarkable volunteers-from SWSA put together two great days of jumping on the K20 at Satre Hill. The Blizzard of '10 created a challenge in preparing the hill, but they got it done! More importantly, the new jumpers got it done!

A total of 26 athletes showed up-optimism in numbers for the continued growth of Team SWSA! Some of the new, two day "veterans" were already in jumping skis and/or going from the top of the jump.

Side note-apparently massive quantities of pizza, pasta, bread, cocoa and chicken soup were devoured.

Looks like SWSA needs a bigger parking lot...

Thanks to coaches Julian and Andrew, too.

SWSA Webcam-see Coach Ken Snowmaking!

2010-12-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.jumpfest.org/multi-media/webcam.php

There is a rumor going around that the K20 will be ready for Sunday, 12/19/10!

Or, put the skinny skis on and skate around the outrun.

Women's USA Ski Jumping Website

2010-12-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.wsjusa.com/

Great website!

Snow? Cover! Rain now - cold coming! R U Ready?!

2010-12-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Lake Placid-"Training Day"-12/4/2010

2010-12-05T10:12:00.000-08:00

Road trip! Caleb, Arenal and Jeremy (with an assortment of parents) travelled to the High Peaks after a kind invite from the NYSEF coaches to join our jumping brothers and sisters (albeit older siblings) from the Granite State.

One group tested the Northway Motel...good reviews! The other combo platter rocked it old school style (thus, see the vintage patch to the left) and did an "up and back" trip.

The weather was fine and the jumps were fast and long. Coaches Dave and Evan gave Team SWSA lots of tips, confidence and high fives.

When asked about the day, one tired Salisbury jumper proclaimed, "When do we get to come back?!"

Stay tuned for news from Coach Ken about snow making on the K20 at Satre Hill!

New Jump Photos from Satre Hill 11/27/10

2010-11-27T17:56:00.001-08:00

Winter 2010-11 Practice and Event Schedule

2010-10-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

SWSA Practices Starting in January:
Saturday and Sunday 9-11am and 1-3pm
Tuesday and Thursday 6-7:30pm

Lake Placid Training Camp Day:
December 18

SWSA Jump Camp!!! December 27-28, 9am-3pm at Satre Hill
Camp is open to all interested jumpers regardless of experience! Safe and fun!

Nordic Kids Event Schedule:
January 9-Andover, NH Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined
January 16-Vermont Academy, VT Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined
January 23-Hanover, NH Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined

February 12-SWSA Jumpfest, CT Ski Jumping
February 27-Empire State Games in Lake Placid, NY Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined

Who Doesn't Love New Gear???!!!

2010-10-21T17:07:00.001-07:00

TEAM SWSA with new toys from Bavaria!

200cm of rocket fuel

http://www.crazy-falcon.de/

Great Article About Getting Started...And Progressing

2010-09-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

One of SWSA's own skiers, at home on Satre Hill!

http://fasterskier.com/2010/09/learning-to-fly-in-lake-placid

Learning to Fly in Lake Placid
By Nathaniel Herz · September 8th, 2010 · 3 Comments

A participant in the New York Ski Educational Foundation's August Grasshopper camp prepares for lift-off.
How do you get dozens of youngsters to try out a sport like ski jumping?
For the staff of the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF), that’s not just an idle question to ponder. It’s crucial for the club to attract large numbers of kids to try out the sport if they want to turn out athletes with hopes of ever competing at an elite level.
From the outside, ski jumping seems like it should be difficult to break into, with its intimidation factor and high cost scaring off wary parents. But a visit to a NYSEF “Grasshopper” camp for juniors at the Lake Placid Jumping Complex in mid-August showed just how the club had overcome those hurdles—making the sport accessible, and attractive, to local children.
Make it Accessible
According to NYSEF Ski Jumping Head Coach Casey Colby, the club tries to attract local kids to the sport by reducing costs for interested parents.

A Grasshopper camp participant readies himself at the top of the K-18 with the help of coach Matt Cook.
“It’s hard to get kids to do this sport, because it’s not something you do recreationally, with your buddies,” Colby said. “It’s like the drug-dealer style of recruitment. You’ve gotta go out and let ’em do it for free.”
Colby cited a program that NYSEF ran last winter, Learn to Fly Wednesdays, in which local kids could take a crack at jumping in exchange for $5. They weren’t big moneymakers, but Colby credited the sessions with creating greater interest in the Grasshopper camps throughout the summer. Twenty-six kids were enrolled in the mid-August session, as opposed to a mere seven last summer.
At $150 for three days, including lunch, the Grasshopper camps don’t break the bank, either. Equipment would be a formidable expense for parents—if they had to buy it. But the kids in the NYSEF programs don’t have to bring their own: The club owns an entire fleet of skis, and spare suits hang from a rack in the lodge.
The low cost doesn’t mean that kids will sign up automatically, though—their parents must also be convinced of the safety of the sport before they’re willing to let their children strap on skis.
Colby said that he has enlisted the parents of some of Lake Placid’s best jumpers to help sell the sport, including the mother of 2010 Olympian Peter Frenette.
“Her job last winter, as she saw it, was to make sure the parents were involved,” Colby said. “I think parents—their view of ski jumping is ABC’s Wide World of Sports, agony of defeat…The first time they go to practice and they see a couple of kids fall, they’re kind of freaked out, because it looks horrendous. But 99.9 percent of the time, they get back up, they grab their stuff, and they go back up the hill.”
Scaling Down the Fear Factor
Ski jumping doesn’t sound like a summer sport, but during the off-season the snow and ice that covers Lake Placid’s hills in winter is replaced by a porcelain and plastic facsimile—the former substance is used for the tracks on the in-run, and the latter is laid out in shingles the landing hill.
Regardless of the surface, for anyone who has seen ski jumping on TV—or worse, in person—it’s difficult to imagine how anyone could ever be convinced to launch themselves from those towering, Olympic-sized hills.
But the only time the kids in the Grasshopper camp go near the top of Lake Placid’s Olympic jumps is for lunch, which occurs in the observation platform of the 120-meter hill.
The rest of the time, participants hone technique and confidence on the K-18 jump, which is tucked out of the way on the complex’s hillside, between some

The in-run of Lake Placid's K-18 jump.
buildings and a stand of trees.
Unless you’re already familiar with the sport, describing Lake Placid’s smallest jump as “the K-18” doesn’t say much. The number refers to the distance from the take-off, in meters, at which the landing hill begins to flatten out—generally the farthest that the young athletes traveled on their jumps.
During the August camp, few flew farther than 15 meters, and the kids were never more than a few feet off the ground.
While the K-18 is far smaller than Lake Placid’s Olympic jumps (which are K-90 and K-120), the kids still build their way up to it.
During the winter Learn to Fly lessons, they start with ski play and balance drills before progressing to actual jumping. In the summer, many of the children warm up simply by gliding down the landing hill, without jumping at all.
“We’ve learned to take down the intimidation factors—the big skis, the gnarly crashes that kids see,” said Dave McCahill, one of the NYSEF junior coaches behind the winter jumping sessions and the Grasshopper camps.
According to McCahill, the younger kids seem to pick up the sport more quickly. But regardless of age, the initial jumps are still scary. Pre-teen A.J. King described his first time as “a little freaky”—although it didn’t take long for him to get over it.
“I was kind of scared. But then I did it and I felt great,” he said. King, a New Hampshire native, learned to jump with the Andover Outing Club, and he also competes in nordic combined.
Billy Demong, another Lake Placid native who won gold in nordic combined at the 2010 Olympics, recalled being the most reluctant of all of his friends when he started in the sport. But that feeling, he said, eventually dissipated.
“Fear kind of fueled me to keep showing up. And then you kind of hit that requisite point where you finally get some air under your skis and…go down the hill a little ways, and it makes it worthwhile,” he said. “That’s where you go from being afraid of the sport to, ‘[I] can’t wait to get back to the top of the hill.’”
Incremental Increases
The progression from the K-18 up to Olympic hills is incremental: once the kids master the K-18, they move up to Lake Placid’s K-40, where they build confidence and gain experience. There’s nothing between the K-40 and the K-90 at the complex, but athletes will practice on other hills throughout the country between K-60 and K-70 before making that jump.
At the August camp, there were kids all along the continuum—some who were still working up the courage to try the jump for the first time, and others who would jockey for position at the top of the hill.
While the camps are informal—they’re about having fun—there’s still a lot of thought going into the coaching. McCahill has the kids practicing take-off

Camp participants taking in the action at a "Soaring Saturday" competition
technique during morning stretching, and he gives them feedback on their jumps throughout the day. There’s even a brief video review session after lunch.
“We’re trying to stress a good understanding of technique and form at an early level,” McCahill said. “We’re trying to keep the kids informed about what they’re doing, and why it’s working.”
It’s not as serious as the rigorous analysis you might find at the college level, but Colby says it still works.
“These kids are actually learning, and they don’t have a clue,” he said. “Half the time they just come off every single jump and ask, ‘How far’d I go? How far’d I go?’ They really don’t know that they’re getting better.”
Make the Path Clear
As much as anywhere else in the country, the path to jumping greatness is laid out clearly for the aspiring juniors at the Grasshopper camp.
Aside from the obvious progression in the size of the hills, from K-18 to K-120, camp participants can see elite athletes in action on a weekly basis, which provides them with ample inspiration.
Each weekend during the summer, the complex hosts Soaring Saturdays, a low-key competition in which elite jumpers like Frenette, a Lake Placid native,

Kids gather to get their equipment autographed.
vie for a prize purse of a few hundred dollars.
Given the sport’s eye-catching nature, it’s easy for the events to draw crowds of the town’s ubiquitous tourists. An announcer hypes up the athletes, and even officiates a few minor league baseball-style t-shirt giveaways.
The festive atmosphere is like a drug for the camp participants, who spend an hour after lunch at the Grasshopper camp taking in the competition. They stand next to the take-off and watch in awe as their idols fly past, picking out the best jumpers by name. Later, they swarm Frenette and others for autographs.
The attention and status afforded to the elite jumpers makes the sport that much more appealing to the youngsters, some of whom even see ski jumping as a path to fame and fortune, misguided as that may be. (The American jumpers gained notoriety at the 2010 Olympics for the odd jobs each had taken on to support their competition schedule; Frenette was an ice cream scooper.)
Asked what he liked about the sport, King spent just as much time talking about stardom as he did about the jumping itself.
“Everybody’s cheering you on, [you] get in the newspaper, on the news, go really far, and stuff. Win money, and have fun,” he said.

Ski Jumping Camps and Practice-WINTER 2010-11

2010-09-21T12:33:00.001-07:00

SWSA Programs and Efforts
SWSA provides instruction for jumpers from 6 years old and older. Currently we have jumpers using our 20 and 30 meter hills and hope to have some using our new 65 meter hill in 2011.
We offer a camp during the Christmas break for children interested in learning to jump and for children that participate year after year. This years dates for the camp will be Monday December 27th and Tuesday the 28th. The camp runs from 9am to 3pm and will include a mini tourney on Tues afternoon. The cost for the camp is $30.00 per skier and includes lunch on both days. For those new to the camp we ask that you bring a helmet, down hill skis and boots and we will take care of the rest.
For those skiers that wish to continue we will require that they join the US Ski and Snowboard Association as a competitor. This will cover the skiers insurance not only at our facility but at other venues that they may compete at.
Following this years camp we will provide instruction on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 7:30pm. Saturday and Sunday the times will be from 9am to 11am and 1pm until 3pm both days.
As the winter continues we will be attending competitions throughout New England.SWSA skiers have competed in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Lake Placid New York in the past few years.The experience of going to different venues will be a great experience for new jumpers and also allows them to meet a whole new new group of friends.
Jumping also continues during the summer. Lake Placid N.Y. offers jumping on plastic as well as Lebanon N.H. SWSA skiers have attended 3 camps in Lake Plaid this summer and have improved their skills dramatically by training on a year round basis.
If you are interested in taking part in the camp or attending practices in the upcoming winter feel free to contact us and we will try to answer any questions you may have.

Get Fired Up for the Winter...NORDIC COMBINED TRAINING

2010-09-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

USA! USA! USA!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEIv95bzLy8

COOL Ski Jumping Recruiting Video

2010-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Youtube has a treasure of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7o9TlxY1iU

Summer Wrap Up Photos from Lake Placid!

2010-09-09T12:24:00.001-07:00

Stike a pose, AH!

GH camps-no phones or ipods needed!

Link to the NYSEF page=good stuff from the camps!

http://nysefskijumping.blogspot.com/

And...look for Team SWSA in the video...including the judges!

GH CAMP #3-Putting It All Together!

2010-08-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

It was time for the last summer road trip to Lake Placid. Caleb Gilbert was resting in Maine after taking a tumble during the last camp and outsoaring his fellow competitive campers. The paparazzi did catch him secretly training on his pogo stick while jumping over a lobster obstacle course! The SWSA crew missed the Gilbert family and their energy but the rest of us made ourselves ready for the last challenge.

For Arenal Hruby her mission was to feel comfortable in Jumping Boots and Jump Skis. She had been working diligently on the landing hill but had not yet felt the security in herself to tackle the 18 Meter jump. We were lucky enough to have superb weather and a lot of dedication from her coaches. A new assistant on the scene was Zach Daniels of the Eastern Junior Olympic team. Zach was also the last person to jump from the SWSA wooden tower, which is currently being replaced for the US Junior Olympic Ski Jump and Nordic Combined 2011 competition. The high-energy support, and female go-go mojo, of Tara Garraghty-Moats with Dave Mc Hahill's tactics for technique created the right combination and momentum for Arenal to feel secure and jump with her new equipment.

And JUMP she did! Eve Arenal broke her own personal best record and soared 14 meters (about 45 feet!) into a neat controlled tuck landing. This is double her last performance at the 2010 SWSA Jumpfest. She made her club proud by overcoming the butterflies in her stomach and taking on newfound wings. All the NYSEFF Grasshopper Camps proved to be a fantastic training ground for style, technique, and true progress: for the mental game and full flight training! Not to mention the great friendships everyone made. We all await the snow eagerly and look forward to new journeys and the evolution of the young SWSA crew. Just jump it!

New Links Added and Other August News!

2010-08-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ski jumping websites and results links have been added to the blog. Send suggestions for other relevant/cool pages.

The results links show the great progress and success that Team SWSA had during the 2009-10 season.

Can't wait for a great 2010-11 season.

One more Grasshopper Camp on the horizon, August 13-15. Good luck to the SWSA jumpers heading north.

Grasshopper Camp #2-BIG success and an ADVENTURE!

2010-07-20T14:46:00.001-07:00

Photos: Lake Placid, Winter 2010

July 9-11, 2010 LAKE PLACID, NY-

Caleb Gilbert and Arenal Hruby once again made the trek to the "epicenter" of the Eastern ski jumping universe, Lake Placid...perhaps the title will shift 3.5 hours southeast next February when SWSA hosts the Junior Olympics?!

Nevertheless, both Team SWSA members were treated fantastically by their NYSEF hosts. Our nordic brothers and sisters could not have been more supportive or welcoming. Caleb and Arenal were certainly part of the wolf pack from the second they got out of the car.

With the thought of nordic combined on the horizon this winter, the SWSA athletes did dry land training with roller skis. Beyond the absolute fun of it, they learned technique and balance from the NYSEF nordic coach.

Arenal took the next step and laced up jumping boots! Putting the buckled ones away, she made her first jumps, building more and more confidence each time. Look out Eastern ski jumpers this winter, again! Caleb decided to push the envelope and uncorked a few big jumps to be really proud of. On Sunday morning he earned a few special awards for his final jump on Saturday. A "get well" card and a m&m toy filled with candy. Background---he took a tough tumble on his last jump and ended up visiting with some old and new friends at the ER. THANK you Lake Placid for your great care! Nevertheless, he is wearing his sling as a badge of ski jumping honor and courage.

The SWSA jumpers love their sport and can't wait for the snow to fall. There is HUGE anticipation with the soon to be finished new jump and the thrills of the 2010-11 jumping season ahead in Salisbury, CT. CONFIDENCE is so important in any sport...these two got it!

Grasshopper Camp #1, Lake Placid Report June 2010

2010-07-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Leaving the comfort zone of Salisbury is not easy yet the warmth we encountered from our northern neighbors at the first of three Lake Placid Grasshopper Camps pleasantly surprised Peter Gilbert and myself, Andes Hruby. We are the parents of young 8-year-old jumpers:
Caleb Gilbert and Eve Arenal Hruby now in their third year of competition.

Before departing for the camp one of the main obstacles was making sure our children had head to toe coverage and would not get skin "burns" on the turf-like plastic grass. We altered two old bright red SWSA suits from adult length to fit Caleb and Eve Arenal.

The week before we arrived at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex they refurbished the Jump itself adding three feet and removing the plastic and replacing it with tiles. Imagine slipping on wet tiles floor? The sheets of plastic were now hard sheaths of porcelain. The room for error in landing decreases by a significant margin. The Landing hill, which we usually see as a large slope of butter cream frosting is now covered with layers of long hard hula skirt grass but it is surprisingly short and narrow. After skiing down the hill you rapidly reach the edge of real grass. When your skis touch true sod it means you have two options: tuck or face plant.

Team SWSA was not alone on perfecting the face plant. There were an astounding amount of wipe outs, face plants and catapults on to the
grass: complete with the lawn and mud getting stuck in every mechanical crevice of bindings, goggles, and helmets. I was lucky enough to stand next to Ms. Martina Lussi (mother of the well known Lussi jumpers) who soothed my chronic cringing and assured me their technique would improve. Lussi explained that snow is forgiving and plastic grass with the pasture ahead will certainly take the skin off your hands and the seat out of the suit if a controlled landing was not mastered. Skill, technique, and control would be absolutely necessary before any attempt to launch off the slick wet porcelain tiles. It is clear why the Lake Placid crew wins the cash at Target Jumping. The immaculate precision needed to jump and maintain control from the jump on to the grass and then come to a succinct stop exceeds the challenge of jumping onto the cushion of expansive snow.

Our SWSA kids kept their spirits up due to the talented and enthusiastic NYSEFF coaching team. By the end of the day they were able to swim in the extreme freestyle pool and regain some confidence as the other competitors from clubs in and around the Northeast have grown to recognize them by name. Peter Gilbert and I found a similar effect when we headed out to dinner and the Bliss Parents recognized us and encouraged their son Andrew to come to our table and speak to the kids about jumping.

By the third day our kids geared up and took on competition from the high bar launch. The endless enthusiasm and support of Dave Mc Cahill and the presence of a woman and competitor Tara Garaghty-Moats (a SWSA cup winner and record holder) helped every step of the way.
Although Peter Gilbert and I were ready to sit back and enjoy the ultimate slip and slide we were called to the hill to Judge. Our head judge was Jay Rand Jr. once he realized we were from SWSA he emoted with wonderful memories of the Snow Ball and had nothing but generous things to say about his experiences in Salisbury. He is a former Olympian and spoke of how he (and his daughter) still have their Satre Hill cups (awarded to them by Roy Sherwood) displayed in their home. I later found out they won the silver bowls so often SWSA had to retire them.

As her parent I could see Arenal had improved dramatically but when Jay Rand Jr, commented she had a clean jump with style I burst with pride. Caleb Gilbert and Arenal Hruby might not have jumped the furthest but they each exhibited control, technique, and flair in the air!

Arenal has asked me to make her a "training regime" so when she returns to Lake Placid for Grasshopper Jump Camp 2 she is ready to make progress and not be hindered by her sore muscles. I know we are busy on the hill at home in Salisbury: wading through concrete, steal beams, and meetings. The snow feels a long way off from the summer sweat and mosquitoes, but for us now as the grass grows thicker our vision has changed. Jumping for our kids is no longer just a winter sport.

Check back for an update when three of our officials go North again to Lake Placid and see if the jumpers can get higher then the fireworks on the fourth of July.

Andes Hruby-Segalla