Frequently Asked Questions
The Event
Harris Hill thrills each year as jumpers from the US and abroad compete in the annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition in Brattleboro.
The 90-meter Harris Hill Ski Jump was re-built in 2008 to International Ski Federation (FIS) specs. It is the site of 18 national championships over its colorful history. Enjoy two heart-stopping fun-filled jumping days of music, tailgating, a climb to the takeoff for an up-close look at the jumpers as they fly by. This year’s event is a stop on the United States American Ski Jumping tour in addition to the traditional Pepsi Challenge and Fred Harris Memorial Tournaments.
The Harris Hill Ski Jump is a festive atmosphere with food, music, souvenirs, a beer tent and visits by Jumper the mascot. Chairs and tables are set up outside of the beer tent, weather permitting. Drive into the parking lot, buy a ticket at the gate and be directed where to park.
2022 Competition Schedule
See “Schedule & Information” on Homepage
Dogs
We LOVE dogs, but please leave them at home. At events of this size, with lots of people and noise, home is the safest place for our four-legged friends. We don’t like to see them in cars either. We won’t necessarily turn you away if you have a leashed dog, but we ask you to strongly consider leaving your dog(s) at home.
Vendors
There is availability for food and sponsor vendors. Contact: Missy Galanes.
Spectator Information
The Harris Hill Ski Jump is a great opportunity to see an Olympic-sized ski jumping competition “close to home.” And just like at the actual Winter Olympics dress warm, wear boots and be prepared to be amazed. We recommend dressing in layers, warm boots, hat, gloves as Vermont offers up unpredictable winter weather.
How to Get Here
Brattleboro, Vermont—Exits 1, 2, 3 off I-91,
Exit 2 to Cedar Street and follow signs.
Drive Times & Directions
New York City, NY, 3-1/2 hours
Boston, MA, 2 hours
Hartford, CT, 1-1/2 hours
Springfield, MA, 1 hour
Albany, NY, 2 hours
White River Junction, VT, 1 hour
From Points North and South
From I-91, take Vermont Exit 2 (Rt 9) and turn left at the end of the ramp (east) onto Western Avenue. Turn left onto Cedar Street and follow signs. The travel distance is approximately one mile from the interstate.
From Points East (in Eastern Massachusetts)
Take Rte. 2 West to I-91 North in Greenfield. Take I-91 North to Vermont Exit 2 (Rt 9). Turn left at the end of the ramp (east) onto Western Avenue (Rt 9). Turn left onto Cedar Street. and follow the signs.
From Points West (around Albany, NY)
Take the I-787 North ramp toward Troy and merge onto I-787 North. Take the Rte. 7 East exit toward Troy/Bennington. Merge onto Rte. 7 East, Rte. 7 East, which becomes Rte. 9 East in Vermont. Follow Rte. 9 East to Brattleboro where is it locally known as Western Avenue. Turn left onto Cedar Street and follow the signs.
Airports
The closest airport is Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, CT.
Other airports are in Manchester, NH; Albany, NY; Burlington, VT.
Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce
Contact the Brattleboro Chamber of commerce at 802-254-4565, Toll Free: 877-254-4565 or visit their website for more about Brattleboro.
Nestled between the West and Connecticut Rivers, Brattleboro offers visitors an exceptional variety of recreational activities, arts, entertainment, shopping and dining. As Polo Magazine points out, Brattleboro’s historic downtown “is crammed with bookstores, galleries, and cafes, and a quaintly lingering counterculture image is more than balanced by some very well-laid tables.”Passengers can still arrive in our town by train, with Amtrak’s Vermonter providing regular service. The view from the window has not changed, and is glorious during any season. But whether you arrive by rail or car, our corner of the state offers you everything that you want in a Vermont experience. If you are just thinking of resting here a little while or you are considering a longer stay, we offer anything that a visitor needs.
Lodging
Please contact the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce for lodging ideas at (802) 254-4565 / (877) 254-4565.
Volunteer
The organizing committee for Harris Hill Ski Jump is seeking volunteers to join the team and be a part of history as we host this year’s event.
Volunteer Opportunities
Set up and clean up
Parking
Distributing tickets and posters several weeks before the event
On-site work / guest services
Email the coordinators below to volunteer for this year’s jump.
Volunteer Coordinators
About Ski Jumping and The World Cup
The first known ski jumper was Norwegian Olaf Rye, who jumped 9.5 meters in 1809 before an audience of other soldiers. By 1862, ski jumpers were tackling much larger jumps, and competing in official ski contests. Ski jumping has been part of the Olympic Winter Games since the first Games in Chamonix in 1924.
In the early years, a skier donned skis and set off from a platform at the top of the jump. As the sport evolved, several platforms at different heights on the in-run were built to regulate the takeoff speed. Today, a skier puts on skis using a platform on the side and then slides sideways in a sitting position onto a bar spanning the track.
A little terminology: The in-run is the part of the jump from the starting point to the take-off. It has a 32-35 degree pitch and gradually lessens to 10 degrees for the last 20-30 feet from the take-off point where the jumper becomes airborne and soars into the air. The knoll is that part of the jump from the end of the takeoff to the steep portion of the landing hill. The transition is the point where the landing hill begins to flatten out. The outrun area runs from the end of the transition to the where the skier stops.
The size of a hill is referred to as hill size. This is the distance from the takeoff to a point on the landing hill (after the steep portion and in the transition) where the slope has flattened to a point beyond which it may be dangerous for a skier to land safely. Many people think that the size of the hill has to do with the size of the tower. A hill size used to be determined by its P point, the distance from the takeoff to the point where the knoll ends and the steepest part of the landing hill begins.
Harris Hill conforms to what is called a Normal Hill, and has a hill size of 98-meters (HS 98m). Large Hill is the common term for the longer jumping hill.
Although it might appear that the takeoff propels the ski jumper up into the air, it actually angles downward 9.5-11 degrees.
The track is not curved all the way to the end of the takeoff. The last section is flat or straight. The rules for ski jump design prescribe that the length of the straight part of the takeoff or table, be built so that the skier traverses it in one quarter of a second.
Today’s specifications call for the track to be ice. Hard-packed snow was the old standard. The depth of the track is at least 1.5 inches. Modern skis do not track well since the front part is flexed upward and doesn’t have contact with the track. Today’s deeper tracks are necessary to keep the skiers in the track.
How can I start ski jumping?
Brattleboro has a rich history of ski jumping. Many world class athletes have risen from the junior jumping program here in Brattleboro, VT. We’re continuing this tradition! Our program is an incubator for the next generation of ski jumping and nordic combined World Cup athletes.
We’re building 10 & 18 meter jumps on the site of the original Memorial Park facility. We will be holding practices 2 nights a week when the snow flies. You can find current information about our activities on our FaceBook page.
For those not in the Brattleboro area, visit easternskijumping.com and nesjnc.com.
Feel free to email Brattleboro Coach Todd Einig.
Harris Hill Legacy
The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition is a celebrated Brattleboro tradition that dates back to 1922, before it was even an Olympic sport. It was the vision of Fred Harris of Brattleboro who founded the Brattleboro Outing Club and the Dartmouth Outing Club. The two-day ski jumping tournament brings world-class jumpers from around the world to compete. Over the years, Harris Hill has been the site of 18 national and regional championships, with the most recent in 1992 when it hosted the National Championships.
Crowds of thousands would come from near and far in their best furs (now replaced with Gore-Tex and down) and regalia to witness the event. Over the years, it has become a tradition with the people of western New England and has continued its reputation for attracting an enthusiastic crowd of spectators.
Only an occasional snow drought, World War II, and a pandemic have interrupted this annual tradition, until recently when the jump fell into disrepair. After the 2005 event, the organizers of the jump determined a complete overhaul of the hill was necessary.
Ski jumping is a sport that truly needs to be seen up close to be appreciated and spectators can do that at Harris Hill.
Listen to our history podcast on the Brattleboro Words Trail.