Ski jumping first appeared in the Olympic Games in 1924. Work on technique enabled Sigmund Ruud and Jacob Tullin Thams to popularize this Nordic skiing discipline. Now part of the Olympic program and with its own World Cup, ski jumping is attracting more and more French fans. Discover our complete guide to this sport, which is beginning to dethrone Alpine skiing!
What is ski jumping?
Ski jumping is one of the two events in Nordic combined. The sport consists of descending a slope as quickly as possible, then using a ski jump to take off and land as far as possible. During the competitions, the jumper's jump is graded by a jury, taking into account the length reached, the style of flight and the quality of the landing. The jumper's objective is to fly as far as possible, while maintaining a certain aesthetic of flight.
To ski jump, you need a slope of at least 200 meters and a ski jump. All ski jumps are designed and built to facilitate gliding, take-off and landing. Good-quality skis, long and wide enough, are also needed to maximize the skier's speed and stability on landing.
Ski jumping: 4 steps
If you want to try your hand at ski jumping, follow these 4 steps:
- Getting started: you start at the very top of the slope. You launch yourself down the slope, reaching a speed of around 90 km/h. This is the minimum speed required to be able to jump from the ski jump. For maximum speed, you need skis adapted to your weight, height and technique.
- The run: don't slow down your run so as not to negatively impact the length of the jump and the quality of the landing.
- The jump: at the right moment, lift the heels of your skis slightly to shift your weight forward and make it easier to take off. You give your ski a V or X shape and leave the ski jump.
- Landing : it's very important not to neglect your landing in ski jumping. You must avoid falling at all costs, but you must also avoid coming into contact with the snow. You must also avoid all parasitic movements, such as windmilling with your arms.
Factors affecting the quality of a ski jump
Gravity
Gravity's role is to pull any object in the air towards the ground. As a ski-jumper, you need to achieve a level of force that balances with gravity to glide for as long as possible. This can be achieved by increasing speed, surface area or angle of attack. Competitors must find the right body position to maximize lift and minimize drag.
Speed
To gain speed down the slope, skiers reduce drag by crouching. The idea is to reduce friction between the skis and the ramp to reach speeds of around 90 km/h. After ski jumping, athletes align their skis and body almost parallel to the ground. The lower the speed, the lower the lift and the shorter the flight.
Flying technique
The "V" technique gradually became the standard for ski jumping. It was at the end of the First World War that scientists turned their attention to ski jumping, with the aim of defining the most aerodynamic body position to lengthen the flight phase. They discovered and tested several methods that enabled them to go from 45 meters to over 100 meters, but the real revolution came with the "V" technique in the 1960s. Initially criticized, this V-shaped positioning of the skis increased lift by 28% and jump distance by 10%! The "X" technique is also used, but with reduced lift and often less performance.
Exterior elements
As you can see, physics plays a major role in ski jumping, since you have to take into account speed, gravity and so on. But the quality of a jump can also be affected by external factors, such as the wind. A stronger or weaker wind will considerably modify a competitor's performance. This is why the officials are responsible for moving the starting point (up or down the slope) according to wind speed and direction. Fast headwinds will increase lift, which can create longer jumps and take the skier beyond the intended zone (and potentially compromise safety).
Skis used
In ski jumping, there are regulations concerning ski length. This depends directly on the skier's height and weight: they must be no more than 145% of the skier's height, and all skiers with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 21 must use shorter skis. Fitted suits should also be worn to reduce the risk of lift created by clothing.
Photo credit : Wikipedia
