JUMP TO IT: Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships

Cowbell-clanging crowds will once again cheer as a few dozen daredevils soar through the crisp winter air at the 84th annual Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships in Salisbury, Connecticut. Also dubbed Jumpfest, the revelry—made possible in large part by the all-volunteer Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s snowmaking efforts—begins on Friday, February 5, with a nighttime chili cook-off among area restaurants, followed by target jumping at historic Satré Hill (with a hefty winner-takes-all cash prize), a bonfire, and a fireworks display.

Saturday and Sunday showcase the main event: competition jumps—judged on style and distance—off the 600-foot launch, complemented by ice-carving demonstrations on the lawn of the White Hart Inn and the swank Snow Ball fundraiser at the Wake Robin Inn in nearby Lakeville.
 

“It’s a really authentic event, with a great vibe, history, tradition,” says one seasoned spectator, “and more than a bit of crazy-ass daredevil to it." [JAN/FEB 2010]

THE GOODS

Jumpfest:
Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships
39 Indian Cave Rd.
Salisbury, Conn.