Salisbury ski jump facility nears completion

SALISBURY — Next year’s Eastern ski jump competition and Junior Olympics ski jump event are now only two months away, and the Salisbury Winter Sports Association is just about ready. Within the last year, the ski jump facility has undergone a complete makeover to update it so it fits major competition standards.

The old wooden jump, which SWSA president Ken Barker said was “still a 1950s design,†has been replaced by one with a steel frame. Construction of the new frame is now 95 percent finished, and this week workers will begin installing the wood decking that goes on top of the frame.

“A vast number of things about the new facility are completely different,†said Barker. In addition to an entirely new jump, a brand new judging tower is also being constructed. The jump itself has a new profile, and the landing hill now has a different grading. There has also been a lot of tree clearing and land leveling in order to put in trailers for the Junior Olympics.

The design of the new jump is as modern as it can be, and Salisbury will now be the only Northeast location able to host the Junior Olympics.

“It’s great for the sport, and it’s great for the town. This new project has put Salisbury at the top of the list,†said Barker.

With the new facility, Salisbury will now also be able to host the U.S. Masters competition.

The SWSA “Jumpfest†and the Junior Olympics ski jump competition will be happening in two consecutive weeks in 2011, and SWSA is hoping for a big crowd. The Jumpfest weekend usually brings around 2,000 spectators throughout the weekend, but Barker added, “with two events happening so close to each other, we’re hoping for double the crowd.â€

Despite the fact that the steel for the new jump arrived later than expected, Barker said that the jump will still be completed far before the time frame in which it will be needed.

“It should be done right after Christmas,†he said.

“We’d like to thank everybody who has volunteered their time helping with the project, as well as all of the donors, for helping us pull this off within the year,†added Barker.

Check SWSA’s website,  jumpfest.org, for more details.