Snow will be in ample supply for Jumpfest Weekend

SALISBURY — Despite last week’s rain and 50-degree temperatures, there will be no shortage of snow at Satre Hill Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8 to 10, when the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) hosts ski jumping for the 87th year during Jumpfest Weekend, drawing some of the best junior jumpers in the East — many with Olympic aspirations.“The night time temperatures dropped right after the warm spell, and we’ve been making snow ever since,” said SWSA President Ken Barker. “We have two snow guns that produce huge volumes of snow.”With overnight temperatures remaining low this week, SWSA directors will continue their snow making to add extra cover to the landing hill.“Our biggest problem is that because there isn’t much snow on the ground out there, people may think that we don’t have any either,” Barker said. “Right now, our ski jump facility looks like a big white patch in an otherwise brown world.”The three-day Jumpfest will include Target Jumping Under the Lights, as well as the Human Dog Sled Race, a crowd favorite where five humans pull one human on a sled around a .3-mile course. Teams get very creative with both their costumes and sleds.Junior jumpers, many of whom have recently completed junior jump camp, will show off their newfound skills as they compete on the 20- and 30-meter hills.Ice carving will return to the Scoville Memorial Library this year, but with a new twist. In place of an actual competition, the event will feature multiple-block demonstration pieces by some the areas (and country’s) best carvers.Area restaurants will compete in a chili cook-off.At the Snow Ball revelers can dance to the music of Common Folk and Treetop Blues featuring Joe Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult fame.Proceeds from Jumpfest Weekend will fund SWSA’s children’s skiing programs.For updates and program changes, go to www.jumpfest.org.