FROGTOWN, CA… Bria Heintz will return to defend her title at the Jumping Frog Jubilee this year with a frog to be known as “Skinny Legs.” The seven-year-old leaped to victory in 2021 with a jump of 20 feet and 1 inch – short of the 21 feet 5 and ¾ inches World’s Record – but creating lots of excitement.

She says, “I’m excited about defending my title. I can’t wait to win again.” Her strategy is “to pick out a skinny frog, play with it, pre-jump it, feed it really good and love it. I am going to name my frog ‘Skinny Legs.’”

Bria is the third generation of the Heintz Family of Angels Camp to figure prominently in the annual event which will be held at Frogtown May 19-22.

Past family winners include Bria’s uncle Mike Nash who won the competition in 2006, her cousin Casey Nash, who won in 2014. Her cousin Raychel Nash finished second, behind Bria, last year. Family patriarch Jerry Heintz was a longtime member of the Angels Camp Boosters Club, helping to manage Frog Jump staging for decades.

The family is part of the Calaveras Frog Jockeys team which was established over 30 years ago by Mike Nash and his friends Jon and Laura Kitchell while students at Bret Harte High School. Since then, the Kitchell, Nash and Heintz families have repeatedly finished in the top eight spots in the Frog Jump Grand Finals.

Frog jump fun is at the heart of the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee. This year’s Fair theme is “Dancing With the Steers” and the event boasts all the features of a traditional county fair – agriculture and livestock exhibits; carnival rides; rodeo; arts, crafts, floral and homemaking displays and a Destruction Derby. The International Jumping Frog Jubilee has been the center of attention for decades, with qualifying rounds the first three days and the Grand Finals on Sunday afternoon.

Everyone is trying to beat the World’s Record of 21 feet, 5 and ¾ inches, which was set in 1986 by the late Lee Giudici and his frog Rosie the Ribiter. His team of family and friends is among those who have been participating at Frog Jump for over 50 years. A $5,000 prize will be awarded if a new World’s Record is set this year. If not, the winning frog receives $750 and a large trophy.

Frog jockey teams take the competition seriously, but anyone can jump a frog for fun at Frogtown. There is a $5 fee for each jump. Kids jump for free on Thursday, May 19.

For complete information on the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, visit  www.frogtown.org or call 209-736-2561.

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