This year SWSA’s annual event starts off with a bang --- literally. For the first time, we will hold a jumping competition on the 65-meter hill on Friday evening, February 9th, under the lights. Then we will darken the sky again to launch a brilliant display of fireworks. It’s our way of welcoming townspeople and visitors alike to the excitement of ski jumping and the festiveness of the weekend. Our usual schedule of competitions will follow in the morning and afternoons of both Saturday and Sunday.

It has been a busy year here at the jumps with projects and changes both on and off the hill. After 12 years as President, Mat Kiefer and after 10 years as Vice President, Cricket Trotta decided to step back (just a little!) and enjoy other activities and interests while at same time still keeping SWSA in their weekly lists of thing to do. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our members, I thank both of them for their commitment to the club and the sport.

This year has brought on renewed interest in providing assistance to ski programs at local schools. SWSA along with local individuals and local businesses is helping cover the costs of Salisbury Central School’s “Ski Adventure Program”, now in its 15th year. The program provides transportation, rental equipment, lessons and lift passes to the nearby Catamount Ski Area for a four week period. SWSA’s contribution of $2,300 came from the proceeds from our Ski and Skate Swap to this program. To everyone who purchased, donated and volunteered at this event we say, “Thank you.”

Satre Hill this summer was the site of the Jane Lloyd Fund’s “Traditional New England Clambake and Chowda Cook Off.” Jane was an avid supporter of SWSA and always said it was one of her favorite events in town every year. She enjoyed marking for years on the hill and always would ask what she could do to help in any capacity. Her fundraiser took in approximately $20,000 that will be distributed to cancer patients for their care within our surrounding area. SWSA was happy to prepare the venue for this event in Jane’s memory.

Other projects have brought us to Satre Hill all year long. The most demanding of these was our decision to provide lighting for night-time events. This year’s Friday night jumping will not only give SWSA more exposure, it will also provide much needed training to young jumpers. Young jumpers learn the sport on progressively larger jumps, starting on 20-meter hills all the way up to 120-meter. Salisbury’s 65-meter hill is the only jump in the East that bridges the gap between 50 and 90 meters.

Former jumpers are mindful of the key role SWSA played. Notably, 1956 Olympian Roy Sherwood has recognized the importance of SWSA and given generously to our club over the years. This year was no exception. Roy supplied us with funds for two projects this fall. The first was for deflection boards on the landing hill in front of our markers, which were mandated by the US Ski Association for safety of markers and jumpers during our meet. The material cost of the boards, built and installed by our members, was covered by Roy. Secondly, Roy paid for the materials to give our judge’s tower on the right of the hill, which had begun to look a little drab, a face lift. SWSA would like to thank Roy for his annual support and the completion of these two much needed projects.

The club this fall also got a much needed engineering plan for our new 65-meter tower. Last spring the club hired an engineering firm to help us with a new design that will keep our venue up to date with other jumping facilities throughout the country. There will be a lot of leg work and decisions to be made by the members as we launch this endeavor; however everyone involved in SWSA is committed to keeping ski jumping a tradition in Salisbury for years to come!

Marketing our event every year has also been a challenge for the club. Where to advertise, whom to target, how to keep spectators coming back and how to attract new ones. In the fall Dan Bolognani of the Interlaken Inn in Lakeville offered to take on our website design and help us with marketing ideas and new media in which to advertise. Dan, with Jim Whitney of the Northwest CT Convention and Tourism Bureau, has opened up new ways for us to promote this event outside of our usual advertising areas. Their commitment to assisting us is very much appreciated and we look forward to working with them in all our future events.

As you visit the area for the weekend or the day, try to keep our local businesses in mind. These area merchants and individuals support SWSA year after year by advertising in this program. Their tradition of advertising truly helps us to continue this event, and we as a club would like thank them for all they do!

Everyone involved with this event are volunteers. These people come back year after year and do whatever they can to make the weekend a success. Sam Bushnell, a volunteer for 30 years, was one of SWSA’s most loyal. Sam, or Sammy as he was known, passed away this spring. His patented “hi guys” greeting will be missed not only in the cook shack where he put in most of his time, but by all the SWSA volunteers who had ever worked beside him. This year’s program is dedicated to Sam and the memories we all have of him.

Thank you Sammy!

Lastly, I would like take a moment and say “Thank you” to everyone involved in this club for making my first year as President an easy transition and a pleasure.

Ken Barker

President

Salisbury Winter Sports Association