All our tips for learning to ski jump

The Ski jumping appeared in the Olympic Games as early as the first edition in 1924. Work on the technique allowed Sigmund Ruud and Jacob Tullin Thams to popularize this Nordic skiing discipline. Enrolled in the Olympic program and having its own World cup, ski jumping is attracting more and more French people. Discover our complete guide to this sport that is beginning to dethrone the downhill skiing !

What is ski jumping?

The Ski jumping is one of the two Nordic combined events. This sport consists of going down a slope as quickly as possible and then using a springboard to take off and land as far as possible. During competitions, the jump is scored by a juror taking into account the length reached, the flying style and the quality of the jumper's landing. The objective of the jumper is therefore to fly as far as possible by adopting a certain aesthetic of flight.

For Ski jumping, so you need a slope of at least 200 meters and a springboard. All ski jumps are made and designed to promote gliding, taking off and landing. Good quality skis, long enough and wide, are also necessary to maximize the speed and stability of the skier at the reception.

Ski jumping: 4 steps

If you want to try your hand at Ski jumping, you need to follow the following 4 steps:

1. The start : you start at the top of the track. You start on the slope so as to reach about 90 km/h. This is the minimum speed required to be able to jump from the springboard. For maximum speed, you therefore need skis adapted to your weight, size and technique.
2. The race : do not slow down your race so as not to have a negative impact on the length of the jump and the quality of the landing.
3. The jump : at the right time, take off the heels of your pair of skis slightly to shift your weight forward and facilitate your flight. You give your ski a V or X shape and you leave the springboard.
4. The landing : it is very important not to overlook your reception in ski jumping. You must avoid falling at all costs, but also from coming into contact with the snow. You should also avoid all parasitic movements, such as spinning reels with your arms.

Factors affecting the quality of a ski jump

Gravity

The role of severity, is to attract any object in the air to the ground. As a participant in Ski jumping, you have to succeed in reaching a level of force that is in balance with gravity in order to glide as long as possible. To do this, we can play on increasing the speed, the area or the angle of attack. The competitor must find the right positioning for his body in order to maximize lift and reduce drag as much as possible.

The speed

To gain speed while descending the slope, skiers reduce the drag by squatting. The idea is to reduce the friction between the skis and the ramp to reach around 90 km/h. After the Ski jumping, athletes align their skis and their bodies almost parallel to the ground. As the speed decreases, the lift is reduced and the duration of a flight will be limited.

Flight technique

La “V” technique has gradually become the norm in ski jumping. It was at the end of the First World War that scientists became interested in ski jumping to define the most optimal body position. aerodynamics to extend the flight phase They discovered and tested several methods that made it possible to go from 45 meters to more than 100 meters, but the real revolution came with the “V” technique in the 1960s. Initially criticized, this positioning of the V-shaped skis makes it possible to increase the lift of the air by 28% and to increase the distance of the jump by 10%! Regarding the “X-shaped” technique, it is also used, but it causes a decrease in lift and is often less efficient.

The external elements

You will have understood it: physics plays a major role in ski jumping since you have to take into account speed, gravity, etc. But Quality of a jump can also be affected by external factors, such as wind. Indeed, a more or less strong wind will considerably modify the performance of competitors. This is why officials move the starting point (up or down the slope) depending on the speed and direction of the wind. Fast headwinds will increase lift, which can create longer jumps and take the skier beyond the intended area (and potentially affect their safety).

The skis used

In ski jumping, you must comply with regulations concerning Length of the skis. It depends directly on the height and weight of the skier: they must be a maximum of 145% of the skier's height, and all skiers with a body mass index (BMI) under 21 should use shorter skis. It is also necessary to wear fitted jumpsuits to reduce the risk of load-bearing created by clothing.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia