Recreation & Sports

Skateboarding is Coming to the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. The “sport”, was chosen along with a handful of others, (surfing, baseball, climbing, karate) for inclusion in the next set of Games. Some serious mixed and polarizing feelings have been engendered on all sides by this decision.

While this post pertains to skateboarding, I’m sure there’s crossover spill for each of these lifestyle activities that have deep personal and often iconoclastic attachments, with corps of aficionados who eschew commercialization. There is even an , asserting skateboarding is not a “Sport”, and should not be set up for exploitation and subjugation to Olympic formats.

As the story is presented to us…Not as it comes down, goes down, went down, but as it’s presented..that’s how we remember.  The details are left for each imagination no matter how many renderings, angles or replays. They will resonate within each viewer’s minds eye and take hold, get forgotten, drip slowly, or gush from adrenals as needed. Torch carried and passed, the flame of inspiration fed.

A hunter with unrivaled prowess, and beauty, which includes grace, stamina, inventiveness, perseverance, arrives at last on high at the image of himself. His broadcasted self. Reflected in a hundred million screens and more, he cannot look away. So entranced is he by his victory, by his own ascendance, it’s a transfixing moment, a defiance of time. And the hunter, as hero, he can’t look away. Nor can we without effort.

I was kayaking just off the western shore of the Connecticut River, about half way between the Hinsdale bridge and the West River confluence, when I glanced up and saw this dude looking down at me. More than a little startled, I nearly fell in the drink.

He just sat there, maybe 15 feet up, sitting on the limb. He noticed, then quickly dismissed me as an object of interest. I, havening never before seen a Bald Eagle in the wild, was genuinly shocked. In the video you hear me mention the shakey video (I later used some software to stablize the image), which was a direct result of me being startled and excited to see this fellow.

This optical illusion speaks volumes to me. As it turned out, “the arrow” points to a skatepark that I came upon in my travels. It was so well done, so evolved in terms of progression and accessibility and fun, I was again reminded of what a tremendous resource it is for an area. To see the joy offered to kids of every age, even for the youngest, was inspiring.

Upon returning to Brattleboro, it was with some dismay that I saw we did not become a finalist for one of the Artplace grants, the windfall that was hoped to be the penny drop from heaven that would end our drought, and prime the pump.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A 24-year-old Slovenian bested two dozen of the world’s best up-and-coming ski jumpers Sunday to win the Harris Hill Ski Jump’s annual namesake Fred Harris Memorial Tournament.

Gasper Bartol won the event in front of a crowd of several thousand spectators, with fellow Slovenians David Krapez, 22, second and Zak Silih, 20, third.

“This is the first win in this season for me,” said Bartol, who was competing in America for the first time and finds English as challenging as the weekend’s snow-melting temperatures. “The hill was a little bumpy and slow, but it’s OK. The feelings are really good — I’m happy.”

The nearly century-old event featured athletes from the United States, Austria and Slovenia shooting off New England’s only Olympic-size venue at speeds of 60 mph before soaring more than 300 feet in the air.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A 24-year-old Slovenian bested two dozen of the world’s best up-and-coming ski jumpers Saturday on the first day of this weekend’s Harris Hill Ski Jump.

Gasper Bartol won the Pepsi Challenge in front of a crowd of several thousand spectators, with Florian Gugg, 21, of Austria second and David Krapez, 22, of Slovenia third.

The nearly century-old event is featuring athletes from the United States, Austria and Slovenia shooting off New England’s only Olympic-size venue at speeds of 60 mph before soaring more than 300 feet in the air.

One hometown jumper, Brattleboro’s Spencer Knickerbocker, not only is competing but also is helping the snowmaking crew maintain the hill in temperatures as high as 55 degrees.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — The nation’s best young ski jumpers are set to fly at New England’s only Olympic-size venue Feb. 20 and 21 during the annual Harris Hill tournament in Brattleboro, Vt.

The nearly century-old competition will feature two dozen athletes from the United States, Austria and Slovenia leaping off a 90-meter hill that’s one of just six of its size in the country.

Since its start in 1922, the annual event attracts several thousand spectators who watch jumpers shoot at speeds of 60 mph before soaring more than 300 feet in the air.

SAVE THE DATE: HARRIS HILL SKI JUMPING COMPETITION SET FOR FEB. 20 AND 21

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — The nation’s best young ski jumpers are set to fly off New England’s only Olympic-size hill Feb. 20 and 21 at the annual Harris Hill Ski Jump in Brattleboro, Vt.

The nearly century-old competition will feature athletes from the United States, Canada and Europe who will compete on a 90-meter hill that’s one of just six of its size in the country.

Since its start in 1922, the annual event attracts several thousand spectators who watch watch jumpers soar up to 300 feet at speeds up to 60 mph.

Hits the Spot Yoga at Solar Hill in West Brattleboro announces a new course for 2016: Yoga for Golfers.

Yoga Center Director/Founder Scott Willis created this 12-session course as a way for golfers to improve their game during the off season while enjoying the company of other folks who love golf. “Particularly as we age, we benefit greatly from practicing golf-specific yoga techniques for optimal flexibility, strength, and focus,” says Scott.

Congratulations Burlington, and kudos to everyone in the Burlington Skatepark Coaliton, Grindline, and all supporters.

The Two Day Event Will Include the USASJ U.S. Cup Finals

Brattleboro, Vt. – The Harris Hill Ski Jump, the only Olympic-sized, 90-meter ski jumping hill in New England, will host its annual two-day ski jumping event February 20 and 21, 2016. The event will feature the Brattleboro-specific Fred Harris Memorial Tournament and the Pepsi Challenge, and the weekend will also serve as the U.S. Cup Finals of the United States American Ski Jumping (USASJ) series.

Founded in 1922, the annual jumping competition held on Harris Hill attracts several thousand spectators each year not only to watch local jumpers reach great heights but also to view world renowned jumpers soar in the sport of ski jumping. Seven different countries were represented at last year’s event.

Skill and perseverance are needed to snare a fish in moving water, even more so if it’s a native variety. Of indigenous locals, brook trout are most prevalent, and arguably the most beautiful. They’re coy and sly creatures, and having had about ten million years to perfect their camouflage only enhances superb stealth. A trout can be underfoot and you might never know it. So, a catch is a delight which brings much satisfaction.

In short, to succeed you need to be a refined stalker and trickster. The trout is the one attuned to and at home in the water, not we terrestrials. Its super-sensitivities must be matched or there’s no chance, one false move and it’s usually game over. Within this critical pursuit, selection and presentation of an artificial fly must so evoke a real morsel, the fish is willing to risk his life chomping it.

Are you looking for suggestions on bike rides in the Tri-State region this summer? The recently-released map of bikeway routes along the Connecticut River Scenic Byway can help you out. The map covers parts of three states and shows bike routes from Putney, VT and Walpole, NH in the north to Easthampton and South Hadley, MA in the south.

The map was prepared by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Greenfield, MA in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) in Brattleboro contributed data for the Vermont portion of the map, which shows easier, intermediate, and advanced bike routes, off-road bike trails, bike shops, picnic areas, ice cream stops, and more.

Our Place Drop-In Center in Bellows Falls is hosting a 5K race and walk to benefit its food programs Saturday, Aug. 15 at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River.

The 5K for Food will get under way at 9 a.m. over the trails at VA and will include a cool route through the woods, perfect for an August day. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Chivers Center on Shepare Lane.

The registration fee is $15, with a maximum of $30 per family.

The event will raise money to help stock the shelves at Our Place, which serves approximately 175 local families a month. Donations of non-perishable food will be accepted at the 5K.

There is still room for a team to join summer soccer in Brattleboro this year, sponsored by the Putney Soccer Club and held on Wednesday evenings at SIT. Eleven teams are not in place and there is room for one more. The season starts on May 13 and runs to the end of August.

If you are interested in entering a team in the league and serving as captain, please email Edwin de Bruijn at labdeb@sover.net or call 802 254 6965.

Also, if you are an individual player looking to join a team, we may be able to help you find one. You can email us at putneysoccerclub@gmail.com. When you do, please tell us a little about yourself, age, skill level, and so on. Thanks.

Come out rain, mud and/or shine and support Green Street School enrichment programs while you walk or run down neighborhood streets and the scenic Retreat trails behind Brattleboro’s famous ski jump. This family-friendly local 5k is in its third year and gaining great momentum, please join us!

The Saturday, May 2 race starts and finishes at Green Street School, 164 Green Street, Brattleboro. There is also a 1/2 mile Sprout Run for younger children before the 5K.

Registration is now open for the fifth annual Tour de Heifer, which, organizers say, includes Vermont’s most challenging dirt road cycling rides.

The Tour is organized as a fund-raiser for Strolling of the Heifers, and takes place on Sunday of Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, June 7.

The Tour’s 60-mile and 30-mile challenge routes follow dirt roads with mimimal pavement.  Both entail significant elevation change — nearly 7,000 feet for the 60-miler, and over 3,000 feet for the 30-miler.

Brattleboro, VT–Families, friends and teams from work are invited to celebrate the 34th Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake to benefit Youth Services’ Big Brothers Big Sisters program on Saturday, April 4. The fundraising event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with teams signing up for a one-hour time slot at Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road.

Brattleboro, Vt. (January 19, 2015) – The only International Skiing Federation (FIS)-approved ski jump in New England will soon be fully active as the 93rd Harris Hill Ski Jump sets to take off February 14 and 15 in Brattleboro, Vt. The world-class competition will feature more than 40 of the world’s top male and female jumpers from the US, Europe and Canada who will compete on a 90-meter Olympic sized jump.

One of the best kept secrets in Brattleboro is the nifty little ski resort tucked into the side of Living Memorial Park. Just like the big guys, it features a lift, snowmaking and grooming…and it’s open for night skiing too.

It may not be as challenging as some, but it IS fun, and all for the measly sum of FIVE BUCKS!

Historical note: In the early days of skiing, people from New York City used to come by train just to ski here.