SWSA builds a new jump

SALISBURY — Volunteers with the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) worked over the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6 at Satre Hill in Salisbury to build a new small ski jump for children.

There were some technical difficulties involving machinery — specifically, something heavy and wide enough to perch on the steep hillside and drill 3 foot holes for concrete posts.

The dilemma was solved with the lending of a Bobcat (a small bulldozer) from Emberlin Property Care.

Ariel Picton Kobayashi, a former competitive jumper who now works with SWSA, explained that the new jump will have a steel track for the youngsters’ skis. This allows for ski jumping without snow on the jump itself. The jumpers still land in snow, however.

The new 20 meter jump is to the left of an existing jump that is to the left of the main jump (looking at Satre Hill from the bottom).

SWSA President Ken Barker ran the Bobcat and drilled the holes, while a crew consisting of Kobayshi, Mat Kiefer, Scooter Tedder, Jim Rutledge, Scott Fitch, Reg Lamson and Willie Hallihan assisted.

At one point Rutledge, directly downhill from Barker and the Bobcat, realized his position was a bit equivocal should the machine suddenly lurch forward.

“Spooky,” he said, before calmly stepping out of the way.

The drilling went smoothly, until the very last hole, when the augur hit a rock.

Shovels were deployed, and Fitch reached into the hole and pulled out the offending rock, which was about the size of a baked ham, and a lot heavier.

This year’s SWSA Jumpfest, with top competitive ski jumpers from all across the country, will be held at Satre Hill on Feb. 7, 8 and 9. For more information on SWSA, go to www.jumpfest.org.