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Ski jumpers compete at Olympic Complex near Lake Placid Saturday

Posted 6/29/11

LAKE PLACID – Ski jumpers take to the Olympic Jumping Complex Saturday, July 2 for the beginning of the summer jumping season on the 90 meter ski jump at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. Saturday’s winner …

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Ski jumpers compete at Olympic Complex near Lake Placid Saturday

Posted

LAKE PLACID – Ski jumpers take to the Olympic Jumping Complex Saturday, July 2 for the beginning of the summer jumping season on the 90 meter ski jump at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Saturday’s winner will have a leg up on the 2011 Art Devlin Cup chase. This is a season-long series that includes the July 2 event, the Flaming Leaves meet in October and the Masters Ski Jump in December.

The competition begins at 1 p.m. with the first of two official rounds.

Summer ski jumping actually began on snow many years ago. Blocks of ice were removed from area lakes and stored, and then the ice was brought to the jumps and crushed to be put on the hill. Crews laboriously spread this “snow” along the length of the jump.

Beginning in the late 1980s artificial surfaces, which had been introduced in Europe for summer training, made their way to Lake Placid.

Now the in-run, where the jumpers gain speed, is made of porcelain tile troughs, while the landing hill features a synthetic surface layered like a thatched roof. When the in-run and the landing hill are watered, the result is a fair replica of winter speeds and jumping distance.

Spectator admission to the event is $15 for adults, $9 for juniors and seniors, and includes a chairlift ride and an elevator ride to the top of the 120-meter ski jump.

Eats and drinks will be available at indoor and outdoor dining spots.

For more information about all of the activities this summer at Lake Placid’s Olympic venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.