Salisbury, the New Vancouver

A short trek for an Olympic experience

For those of you who cannot make the trip to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, you owe it to yourself to take a trip to Salisbury this weekend.

The Salisbury Winter Sports Association is hosting the 84th annual Salisbury Ski Jumps Winter Weekend at Satre Ski Hill just off of Route 44.

Maybe it is the history of this place that makes this weekend something uniquely organic.It reminds people of winter games long gone with bonfires, crowds ringing cow bells and athletes young and old coming together in the spirit of competition.

The Satre Ski Hill is the site of the oldest ski-jumping program in the nation. In 1924, John Satre emigrated to Salisbury to work as a chauffeur for the Warner Family and in 1925 both Olaf and Magnus, his brothers, joined him. Being well known jumpers and cross country skiers in Norway they established what was known then as the Salisbury Outing Club.

On Jan. 29, 1927 the club held its first competition with a crowd of over two hundred spectators and after that it was clear, ski jumping was there to stay.

In 2010, the competition has an updated name, "Jumpfest,"but the passion of the Satre brothers is still there.

Find the the winter weekend itinerary here. The daily admission for adults is $10, children under 12 are free.

 

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