Recreation & Sports

Recreation & Sports section

Safe Bicycling

by RDavis | Recreation & Sports

We live in a world where safety is often elusive. The police have their areas of responsibility and all other departments of cities, states and the entire country protect us in many ways. But there is one area where Americans seem to be more vulnerable than they need to be: bicycle safety.

As a member of the Brattleboro selectboard, a small Vermont town with limited resources, I am trying to work on making our town safer for bicyclists. There are lots of reasons why we should promote bicycle travel and in order to do so it means citizens have to become activated because they can’t rely on government alone to get the job done.

That is why I, and a number of local people, are working to figure out how to make our town safer for bicycling. As with any other issue, safe bicycling is something that is not simple to assure. This is especially true when it comes to trying to plan bicycle paths along public roadways.

Youth Services’ Summer Resource Calendar 2024 Available for Download

by Nanci Leitch | Recreation & Sports

Youth Services has once again created a downloadable spreadsheet of all camps in Windham County as a service to area families.

“Our Summer Camp Listing gives parents and grandparents a listing of all the options in one convenient location,” notes Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services’ Executive Director. “We’ve been doing this for years as a service to local families.”

Harris Hill Ski Jump February 18, 2024: Sunday Results and Highlights – Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Brattleboro, Vermont (February 18, 2024) – The 102nd Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition came to a close this afternoon, with the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

The jumper who wins the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament three times retires the famed Winged Trophy, unique to Harris Hill Ski Jumping. Today’s winner in the Men’s Open class was Uhr Rosar (SLO) with a jump of 98 meters. On the women’s side, the Open class was won by Nejka Zupancic (SLO). Additional winners of the day include Max Fey(USA) for Men’s U16, Jack Kroll (USA) for Men’s U20 and Ole Henning Holt (NOR) for the Masters division. 

Harris Hill Ski Jump February 17, 2024: Saturday Results and Highlights

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Brattleboro, Vermont (February 17, 2024) – The first day competition of the 2024 Harris Hill Ski Jump successfully concluded after a roaring crowd came to support 33 male and female ski jumpers from around the world. With temperatures in the low 30s and skies that displayed typical New England weather including puffy clouds, snow squalls and sun, organizers estimated approximately 3,000 fans were in attendance at today’s competition. The weekend officially kicked off last night with Harris Hill’s first ever night Target Jump competition under the lights. This is the 102nd year of ski jumping at Harris Hill.

Harris Hill Ski Jump in Brattleboro – 102nd Year

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

WHAT:  The Harris Hill Ski Jump, the only Olympic sized ski jump in New England, is celebrating its 102nd year this weekend, February 16-18, 2024 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

On Friday, February 16, Harris Hill Ski Jump will host a Friday night target jump competition featuring athletes from the weekend’s lineup of international competitors. The event is FREE and a thank you to the greater Brattleboro community for its continued support of the annual ski jumping event. Live announcing and some limited hot drinks will be available for sale for Friday.

Harris Hill Ski Jump Sunday Results

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Good afternoon, the Harris Hill Ski Jump 101st addition has wrapped up, to much success. Today’s Fred Harris memorial tournament results are attached, the winner of the event was Slovenia’s Ozbej Kotnik.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Harris Hill Ski Jump.

Harris Hill Ski Jump Saturday Results

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Hello!

RESULTS are attached from today’s Pepsi Challenge at Harris Hill Ski Jump, February 18, 2023.

Highlights:
Vermont Governor Phil Scott attended today’s jump and gave welcome remarks to fans and athletes.
The final Target Jump at the end of the day (which is a fun competition) had a three way tie with jumps at 93M each. In the end, Slovenia’s Vid Vrhovnik took home the win.

Guilford Park Project Embraces 60-day Race to Raise $20,000 for 2:1 Match

by Nanci Leitch | Guilford, Recreation & Sports

“On Your Mark, Set, Go!” According to the Guilford Park committee, the “starter pistol” has been fired for a 60-day race to raise $20,000 more dollars for the construction of the Guilford Community Park. The committee has been working for over a year on plans to build a park behind the Guilford Store, alongside the Guilford Community Church, in the center of Guilford’s Algiers Village. The park they envision is complete with a green spaces, a pavilion, a walking labyrinth, children’s play area with a slide and swings, a basketball half-court, net and fire pit.

If community members and businesses donate $20,000 by February 28, the park can qualify for a matching $40,000 Vermont Community Development grant, “Better Places Program” which will allow the park committee to have everything on their wish list, explained Dunham Rowley, one of the organizers.

Riverfest Weekend Kicks Off the 44th New England Paddlesports Championship; On-river and Off-river Activities; Riff Raft Regatta; ‘Lampey’ Competition

by LSBS | Recreation & Sports

BRATTLEBORO, VT—July 19, 2022—The Connecticut River Conservancy’s first-ever Riverfest Weekend kicks off Aug. 6 & 7 in Brattleboro and Hinsdale, highlighted by the 44th Annual New England Paddlesports Championship on Sunday. Riverfest promises family-friendly near-river and on-river activities bridging southwest New Hampshire with southeast Vermont. www/ctriver.org/nepc-riverfest

On Sunday (10-2p), The New England Paddlesports Championship (NEPC) will welcome racers from across the Northeast. Canoes, kayaks, surf skis, and stand-up paddleboards will have separate race classes. Although this marks the 44th year NEPC has been held on the Connecticut River between Southern Vermont and New Hampshire, this is only the second time competitors will paddle the waters in this stretch of river between Hinsdale, N.H. and Brattleboro-to-Vernon, Vt. The race, launching from Norm’s Marina, Racers can earn points that will count in the NECKRA Flatwater Point Series  www.neckra.org.

A Few Months Ago I Was Awarded The Title of Correspondence Chess Master

by CCM Holland Mills | Recreation & Sports

The first few links at https://hollandmills.website document my ICCF career.

The two noteworthy aspects of this title are that it’s an international title and that it survives me.

Also, after over five years without a tournament victory, I finally placed first in a Master Norm tournament:
    https://www.iccf.com/event?id=88928

Youth Services Is Finalizing Play Times for May 21 CORNSTOCK: Cornhole for a Cause!

by Nanci Leitch | Recreation & Sports

The deadline for registrations is fast approaching for “CORNSTOCK: Cornhole for a Cause!”, according to organizers at Youth Services.   The inaugural year of this new fundraiser, Youth Services is offering space on Saturday, May 21 for 12 teams to play this popular lawn game every hour, between noon and 5, on the Farmhouse Square at Retreat Farm on Rt. 30 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

CORNSTOCK: Cornhole for a Cause! is presented by Chroma Technology. Sponsors for all Youth Services events in 2022 are Pacesetters Brattleboro Subaru, The Richards Group and Headwater Precision.

Harris Hill Ski Jump – Saturday, February 19, 2022 – Results, Highlights and Quotes

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports
Ole Kristian Baarset Norway winning jump PepsiChallenge 2022 PHOTO Dana Sprague

The 100th anniversary of the Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition got underway today with the Pepsi Challenge and the US Cup competition. With blustery temperatures in the 20s and snow qualls throughout the day, the weather delayed jumping by two hours. However, the record crowd was committed to staying at the hill to cheer on the 40+ ladies and men who jumped at the iconic 90 meter ski jump in Brattleboro, Vermont.

The biggest jump of the day came at the very end of competition by Norwegian Ole Kristain Baarset who jumped 101.5 meters in his second jump. Today was Baarset’s first time ever jumping at Harris Hill and his first trip ever to the United States. The current Harris Hill record is held by Slovenian Blaz Plavic who jumped 104 meters in 2017. 

Harris Hill 100th Anniversary Ski Jump February 19-20, 2022

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

The Harris Hill Ski Jump, the only Olympic sized ski jump in New England, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend, February 18-20 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

On Friday, February 18, an evening of FREE festivities will be held to kick off the weekend and celebrate the community as Harris Hill Ski Jump and The Brattleboro Outing Club celebrate their 100th anniversaries. The evening, which will run from 6-8 pm under the new lights, will include a ski jumping exhibition, local food and beverages and a fireworks display. The Harris Hill Ski Jump and Brattleboro Outing Club were founded by Fred Harris in 1922.

Harris Hill Lights, Fireworks, Night Jumping Planned

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

On Friday, February 18, an evening of FREE festivities will be held to kick off the weekend and honor the fans as Harris Hill Ski Jump and The Brattleboro Outing Club celebrate their 100th anniversaries. The evening, which will run from 6-8 pm under the new lights, will include ski jumping competition, local food and beverages and a fireworks display. The Harris Hill Ski Jump and Brattleboro Outing Club were founded by Fred Harris in 1922.

Good Time To Hike Wantastiquet

by DanAxtell | Recreation & Sports

On Wantastiquet, the trail is dry and the mountain laurel is blooming. On June 23, 2021, there was no water on the carriage road trail up to the summit. Not even a puddle. Really, things are that dry. You can wear sneakers. And the mountain laurel will be in bloom for another week. Invasive mountain laurel is everywhere on Wantastiquet, unfortunately, but it sure is pretty for these two weeks. It doesn’t bloom well at lower elevations, so you won’t see blossoms until the 7th hairpin turn (out of 9). The blossoms are much better if you continue past the summit towards Mine Ledge. (The trail after the antenna tower is narrow. I found a tick on my arm within three minutes. Past the summit, tick precautions are necessary.)

The view from the summit is disappointing now. The scruffy oak trees were last cleared out in 2009. Now they block most of downtown Brattleboro. Instead, you should take the side trail at the 6th hairpin turn to see the view from the lower lookout–the preferred spot for Brattleboro panoramas for 165 years. I’ve posted the two panoramas I took today on iBrattleboro’s photo section. It was a post-thunderstorm morning with low humidity–perfect for a photo. There’s even some mountain laurel in bloom on that side trail. That outcrop will have good blueberries in two weeks.

Youth Services’ Summer Camp Directory 2021 Available for Download

by Nanci Leitch | Recreation & Sports

Youth Services has once again created a  downloadable spreadsheet of all camps in Windham County as a service to area families.

“Our Summer Camp Listing gives parents and grandparents a listing of all the options in one convenient location,” notes Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services’ Executive Director. “We’ve been doing this for years as a service to local families.”