The need for a ski-jumping facility
can be demonstrated primarily by the following facts:

• Ski-jumping has a long history in Grand County beginning in 1911 when the first Winter Carnival was held west of the Mississippi in Hot Sulfur Springs, Colorado.
• The Winter Park Ski-Jumping School had operated continuously from 1957 through 2004.
• Much publicity has been generated from the 10 Olympic Athletes and four Colorado Ski Hall of Fame inductees whose ski jumping careers focused at Winter Park.
• On March 9, 2004 the Grand County Commissioners issued a resolution (No. 2004-3-8) urging “uninterrupted continuation of the Winter Park Ski-Jump Program for the good of the Children of Grand County and Colorado.”
• During the past four years, the program exhibited continuous growth in numbers of participating youth each year.
• During the 2003 – 2004 ski season, the Winter Park Jump School had 528 program participants including:
• 14 full-time Team members
• 491 Comp Center participants on the hills as part of their instruction and training
• 23 Eskimo jump program participants

Due to capacity constraints of the facility and handcart lift, the Comp Center participants had to be limited to an alternating weekend schedule in order to accommodate all the young skiers wishing to use the hill.

• Hundred of youngsters and adults have learned life long skills of discipline and values through their participation in the sport of ski-jumping at Winter Park.
• Ski jumping is a facility driven sport and there are very few facilities in the United States.
• There is a need and desire for local youngsters to participate in active athletic programs and adventurous activities such as ski-jumping. The skills and values taught serve these youngsters well in the school endeavors and future careers.
• The nearest other viable ski-jumping program is in Steamboat Springs. It is not feasible for participants from the Winter Park area and the Colorado Front Range to travel and train in Steamboat Springs.
• The Steamboat Springs program schedule is normally held after school hours and half-day on Saturdays. Grand county and Front Range youth require a program schedule that is daytime during the weekends.

A ski-jumping program and competitions will benefit local merchants, lodging, and restaurants creating revenue opportunities for the Town of Winter Park and the new base village being built by Intrawest.

Value of the program (or why the jump school should exist)

• Unique asset that draws guests and develops loyalty
• Draw for Competition Center/Eskimo students- no other major ski area offers a jumping facility.
• Those students become loyal skiers who return with their families to Winter Park.
• Competition Center parents often buy local real estate to provide convenience for weekend stays.
• Could use past/future Ski jumping successes to market Winter Park Ski Area and set it apart from other ski areas.
• Ski Jumping competitions draws another group of individuals to stay and play in Winter Park. An updated K70 would allow Junior Olympic competitions and draw athletes from New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, Alaska and Canada.