Chris Lamb: The Art of Flying
For more than 100 years, the Harris Hill Ski Jump has stood as a beacon on the local landscape. Every February, Harris Hill comes alive as thousands of people gather to watch ski jumpers from around the world soar above their heads at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. This episode brings the thrills of this event to life as jumpers fly, crowds roar and cowbells ring and the sensations of flight are evocatively shared. Local Brattleboro radio and podcast host Peter Case narrates three perspectives on Harris Hill. First, (from 1:38 to 6:16) the internationally recognized ‘voice of skiing’ Peter Graves shares the flavor and history of Harris Hill and describes Harris, the man whose vision and persistence shaped this unique Brattleboro event. Then (from 8:20 to 13:20) we hear an evocative memoir written and narrated by jumper Chris Lamb, who held the Harris Hill record for seven years. Lamb eloquently describes the physical preparation required and the sensations he experiences during ‘the art of flight.’ The episode ends (from 14:00 to 18:00) with reflections on the long and deep native American presence at this place we now call Harris Hill from Elnu Abenaki representative and Atowi project director Rich Holschuh. Episode narrator Case closes with a reference to the 2022 book that marked the 100th anniversary of the event: Harris Hill Ski Jump: The First Hundred Years.
Episode Notes:
Segments in this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast were written and produced specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail by Sally Seymour and Reg Martell. Lissa Weinmann, was executive producer. Seymour wrote, produced and edited the history of Harris Hill narrated by Peter Graves. Reg Martell produced and edited the Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh segments. Peter Case narrated the podcast. Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh wrote the segments they narrate. Alec Pombriant assembled and edited the podcast. Original segments were mastered by Guilford Sound.
Musical credits for the Chris Lamb segment go to its producer, Reg Martell. Brattleboro Words Trail theme music used throughout is by Ty Gibbons.
The photograph accompanying the podcast is of jumper Chris Lamb, who will compete in 2025 and provides an exquisite memoir for this podcast episode.
We’d like to thank the Harris Hill Ski Jump for its help in producing this podcast and to all the volunteers who work and the jumpers who fly to make this one of Brattleboro’s most unique events.
See Harris Hill Ski Jump official website: https://harrishillskijump.com/ (Dates in 2025 are February 15 and 16)
See the Brattleboro Words Project website: https://brattleborowords.org/
See info on Peter Graves: https://skihall.com/hall-of-famers/peter-graves/?srsltid=AfmBOortp1LI4F2sqp5fKBD_YT1Z9KuX6FY-tOIAx4eU_AhC5s2Ok35S
See Rich Holschuh’s Atowi project: https://www.atowi.org/
Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.
