After the snowstorm, it was mush, mush, mush!

SALISBURY — To the delight of the approximately 1,200 spectators who attended the Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s (SWSA) 87th annual Jumpfest on Feb. 10, the day’s events began with the Human Dog Sled Race. It was, as always, a big hit.The crowd cheered and rang the traditional Alpine cow bells as their favorite teams left the starting line for the 0.3 mile race — and again when they returned to cross the finish line. There was as much excitement in the air as when, later in the day, the ski jumps took place.Each team went from the starting line about 0.15 miles, turned around and raced back to the finish line, which was also the starting line.Some participants were in costume. Some wore team jerseys. One team, the Vikings, took their dog-sled design to new heights. Built from the front half of an old canoe, the Vikings’ sled had two custom-built automobile-style cupholders to benefit the rider. Each cupholder was large enough to hold a plastic beer cup.Race rules specified that the person riding in the sled had to weigh at least 200 pounds. If not, weights had to be added to the sled.Sled creativity went in all directions. The WOK Huskies team utilized an ultralight-weight sled that looked like a handful of jumbo-sized coat hangers lashed together. The Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Squad created a sled that looked like a miniature ambulance. What it gave the crowd in attention-getting design, it lacked in aerodynamics.There were four prize categories. In the regular race which was time-based, there was a women’s division and a men’s division. There were also a people’s choice award for each division based on a voice vote from the spectators.Before the races began, the various teams were inspecting their sleds and rigs looking to make any improvements to aid their chances of winning. For some team members the race preparation was helped by beer.During the races there were several mishaps when people pulling the sleds fell down.The Salisbury Stingers women’s hockey team won the women’s division in the regular race in 39.5 seconds. Team Members were Sarah Coon, Suzanne Fowle, Laurie Grusauski, Buzz McGraw, Belinda Morrow and Jacquie Rice.In the men’s division, first place went to the Sunday in the Country Food Drive team at 36 seconds. Team members were Kevin Elliot, Chris Gillette, Ed Hurn, Bob Reynolds, Chris Whitehead and Jim Wilber.In the People’s Choice awards, the women’s division winner were the Honey Badgers, whose team included Andrea Downs, Andrea Jasmine, Gina Jasmine, LaBecca Machia, Michele McGuire and Beckie Seney.The People’s Choice men’s division award went to the Vikings. Team members were Ben Bain, Peter Brazee, Judd Carroll, Arlen Morey, Jesse Morey and John Sugrue.All in all, the Human Dog Sled Races were an exciting and crowd pleasing start for the day’s events.