Ski jumping

Ski jumping is a winter sport in which skiers go down a hill with a take-off ramp (the jump), attempting to go as far as possible. In addition to the length, referees give points for style, on a scale from 1 to 20. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long, with parallel sides.

Competition and technique

Today, World Cup ski jumping competitions are mostly held on "small ramps", where distances of about up to 110 meters are reached, and "big ramps", where the maximum distance is about 130 meters.

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Using the modern V-technique, pioneered by Jan Boklöv of Sweden, world-level skiers are able to exceed the distance of the take-off hill by about 10 percent compared to the previous technique with parallel skis. Aerodynamics has become a factor of increasing importance in modern ski jumping, with recent rules addressing the regulation of ski jumping suits (following a period when "holes" in the rules seemed to favour skinny jumpers in stiff, "air foil"-like suits).

Related Topics:
Jan Boklöv - Sweden

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So-called ski flying events are held on particularly large ramps (such as the one in Planica, Slovenia, or the Kulm, Austria). The current ski flying world record, set by Bjørn Einar Romøren on March 20, 2005, stands at distance of 239 meters.

Related Topics:
Ski flying - Planica - Slovenia - Kulm - Austria - Bjørn Einar Romøren - March 20 - 2005

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