Charlotters Medal at the Jack Jump World Championship
by Alex Bunten,
March 24, 2011, page19.....

For the past 30 years, jack jumpers from far and wide have gathered at Mount Snow for the Jack Jump World Championship. Despite the atrocious weather, this year was no exception. March 6 saw a grand total of 61 hardy souls come out of the woodwork for the dual slalom race on Charlie’s Chase. With an eight-strong delegation in attendance, Charlotte was represented well. All-star Ethan Bond-Watts was looking to defend last year’s championship title, and the understated contender, Craig Bunten, vying for the same spot, was hoping to improve on 2nd place.
Built from a single downhill ski, a vertical support attached to the binding area, topped-off with a flat seat of sorts, jack jumpers are simple in their design. However, this simplicity doesn’t discourage resourceful creativity. This year’s championship was an excellent showcase with a wide variety of styles. Just the vertical support ranged from the popular, yet heavy, plywood frame, to more elaborate welded frames, to the controversial, but notable, shocks and seatbelt set-up. By far the strangest design feature goes to a contestant with an outline of the male genitalia in a business suit painted on his seat (I didn’t believe it either). Most other racers used padding – from spiky yoga mats to pillows – nailed to a plywood base.
Race time was approaching at the top of Charlie’s Chase – a steep, wet, swiftly deteriorating, but manageable JJ run – and all practice runs were stopped in the name of preserving the course and starting a bit early. In the end, it was 45 anxious minutes in the spitting rain before we started. However dismal, it was during this time that the community of detached enthusiasts had time to consider one another’s design, reminisce, tell riveting war stories and not feel like an oddity on the local hill. I say that because generally the average JJ enthusiast gathers stares reserved for circus folk. Queries vary in meaning, but usually translate to: “What the ---- is that thing?,” “How the ---- do you ride it?” and “I want one!”
After laying down the fastest first run, Ethan was caught pushing the bounds of terminal velocity and fell from grace on his second run. He still managed a respectable 8th place despite his untimely error. Craig upheld the Charlotte contingent reputation with two flawless runs and a silver medal. Mollie Wills achieved blinding speed through the last gates and went on to take bronze in the women’s division. Mark Stirewalt of Waterbury Center ultimately won the day, but there is continuing discussion within the JJ community about his seatbelt and shocks design (Should it be a class of its own?).
Not only a great distraction from cabin fever, jack jumping is a well-sung hymn to the Vermont culture of innovation and resourcefulness. Single skis are easy to come by, and the rest is up to you. See you next year at Mount Snow.
----------

Another Charlotte jack jumper, Leath Tonino, recently wrote an article for Vermont Magazine. “The Smiles are Huge” illuminates some of the joy, history and essence of jack jumping. Alex Bunten says of the article, “With this well-rounded piece on a great Vermont pastime, Leath has personally advanced the tradition by ensuring most deft-of-tool readers will attempt to craft one themselves. His article serves to complement and further Leath’s cause by informing the wider community that we jack jumpers aren’t just a bunch of amateurs without means to buy two skis or a board – we’re in training.”